THE FULL REPORT: Lost in translation

Despite a season of tremendous over-achievement, the club have contrived to poke their fans in the eye at a time when they need them most.

Losing 3-0 away to Preston North End is nothing to be ashamed of. Joe Garner can score against anyone. That Saturday was his third hat-trick of the season is evidence of that.

But in naming a starting XI that had no real chance of winning and a squad with little ability to change the status quo, manager Mark Cooper let down the people that care about Town the most.

There were more than 700 away fans at Deepdale and as soon as the teamsheet was read out some of them must have considered why they bothered to come.

Everyone knows why Cooper rested seven key players. His reasoning may be sound, after all the play-offs are his priority.

But the planning and PR is awful.

It has been clear since the defeat to Yeovil, when Town had a realistic shot at automatic promotion, that they would not be rolling the dice to get it.

If that is Cooper’s ‘masterplan’ then fine, it makes sense, even if a little unromantic.

But the Town boss then had four games to ‘rest’ his players.

Why then did he decide the biggest of those - fourth versus second in the league - was the one to show the least respect to the supporters, but also his side’s rivals and his opponents?

Cooper may like to think he is a master of playing the media game. He says a lot without revealing anything and it is rare you ever feel like he has come close to full disclosure.

However if he wanted to be fair to the fans he will be relying on come May 7, then last week he would have fronted up and said ‘on Saturday, I will be fielding the kids’.

In the same position MK Dons’ boss Karl Robinson did just that in 2011, naming a weakened team early to placate fans who might have felt short-changed for an away game at Oldham.

Instead, Cooper is getting a kicking from some of the people who thought that their team – who are more than capable of beating Preston – might give it a go at Deepdale and made a near-400 mile round trip to watch them try to do so.

If the results are unimportant then surely Walsall at home and Colchester away are the times to try the untested?

Putting up no challenge in a game where your supporters and rivals would expect you to perform prods the bear. And MK Dons do not need any more motivation.

One hopes Cooper’s bizarre approach to building play-off momentum does not backfire.

Whilst entrusting the youngsters is admirable, throwing them in at one of the most intimidating grounds in League One was foolhardy.

The Town line-up featured a raft of changes from the midweek draw with Walsall.

Wes Foderingham, Nathan Thompson, Nathan Byrne, Yaser Kasim, Ben Gladwin, Harry Toffolo and Jonathan Obika were all completely left out of the squad. Will Randall, Lee Marshall, Jermaine Hylton, Tyrell Belford, Jack Barthram and George Barker all got starts.

Michael Smith, Jack Stephens, Jordan Turnbull and Sam Ricketts were the only first team regulars to start.

Even the bench was lacking in experience.

Four academy players Matthew Jones, Tom Smith, Josh Cooke and Ryan Wood were joined by Win A Pro man Jose Antonio.

North End wasted no time in exposing Town’s young side.

Paul Gallagher swept a long pass from the left between goalkeeper and defence and the back three were sleeping. With the firepower in Preston’s attack it was a fatal mistake.

Garner nipped in the space and lofted his shot over Belford and into the back of the net.

It was simple and ruthless, Deepdale was rocking. At this point a heavy defeat was on the cards.

To their credit, Swindon held their nerve and despite the much-changed side looked cohesive, knocking the ball around well, often under heavy pressure from a charged-up home side.

However North End looked a threat whenever they put their mind to it.

Garner was quick to remind Town of this when he nearly doubled the lead as the game’s first quarter expired.

From a harmless-looking position with his back to goal the dangerman swivelled on the volley and fired inches wide.

As the half neared its conclusion, North End amped up the pressure and camped out in Swindon’s defensive third.

First they went close with both Gallagher and Garner almost getting on the end of Chris Humphrey’s low cross, Barthram doing well to cut it out.

Turnbull was feeling the pressure of dealing with two of the division’s most potent frontman.

He bundled over Garner to earn himself a booking and almost scored an own goal when he skewed a clearance over his own bar, giving Belford a scare as the ball looped goalward.

It was Turnbull who conceded the free-kick that led to Preston’s second, again crumpling Garner with a clumsy aerial challenge.

From Gallagher’s free-kick Garner doubled his side’s advantage, ghosting free of the Town defence to nod home unmarked.

It took just five minutes of the second half for Garner to complete his hat-trick. Jermaine Beckford shrugged off Ricketts and was allowed to run into the box unheeded before shooting. His effort came back off the bar, but dropped nicely for his strike partner to head into an empty net.

After the third the game was done.

Youngster Tom Smith was summoned from the Town bench for his first team debut. He performed admirably, but it was literally watching men against boys.

Only Hylton rose above Town’s meek challenge, his endeavour and ability to wriggle free of a tackle was impressive throughout.

Had he been better supported he might have been able to conjure something for his side.

Preston were just easing through the half. Humphrey was still causing Turnbull problems down Town’s left, but with the game won the home side mercifully did not commit to twisting the knife on their youthful visitors.

Late on Cooke appeared from the bench to complete the trio of academy players offered pro deals on the pitch.

The striker was recalled from Staines for the occasion and looks physically the most ready of the three for first team football.

With just over five minutes to judge his contribution there was no way of assessing whether or not he will have the ability to match the presence.

With Rochdale threatening to start Preston’s promotion party early, the atmosphere at Deepdale was buoyant, fans, players and management as one.

The comparison with Swindon could not have been starker.

Town now have two games to rebuild both momentum and some goodwill. They need it desperately.

Cooper and co are dangerously close to having their achievements this season overshadowed by a limp and dispiriting finish.