Supporters vote with their feet again as Swindon Town waste chance of home win

What those that chose to turn up witnessed was a forgettable 1-1 draw at home to another of the division’s struggling sides, Shrewsbury Town, although the blame for Swindon’s failure to come away with three much-needed points rests solely on their own shoulders.

Leading by a goal and a man, with John Goddard converting from the penalty spot after Shrews defender Aristote Nsiala was sent off for bringing down Luke Norris in the box, Swindon conspired to be the masters of their own downfall.

John Goddard celebrates after giving Town the lead from the penalty spot

Where they should have comfortably put the game to bed against opponents lacking any real quality, the home side gifted their visitors a way back into the match.

Although there was more than a slight question mark over the legality of the Shrews’ equaliser, with Mat Sadler’s header bouncing between crossbar and goalline twice before being given by the officials, Swindon should not have given them the chance to get back into a position to draw level.

Firstly, James Brophy leapt into two silly challenges in the space of three minutes and received a booking from referee Nigel Miller on each occasion to level up the numbers.

And with parity restored on the pitch, it was soon matched on the scoreboard as Sadler notched with 10 minutes to go to earn the Shrews a point that keeps both teams hovering in the immediate two spots above the bottom four.

Town’s game against Southend United on Bank Holiday Monday was just the third time the attendance figure at the County Ground has topped 7,000 this season, although that can perhaps be put down to the fixture’s timing in the festive season and a hefty away support in excess of 600.

Mat Sadler's equaliser finds the net for Shrewsbury

Matches against Bolton Wanderers and Coventry City on the opening day of the season were the other such occasions.

Strangely, the County Ground was possibly at its noisiest this weekend than since the 5-5 play-off thriller against Sheffield United back at the end of the 2014-15 season – remember those days?

Sadly, it was for all the wrong reasons.

Vociferous boos greeted the whistles at both half-time and full-time, while the shouts of ‘Power out’ and ‘we want our Swindon back’ seemed the loudest they have ever been.

Even the biggest cheer of the day was an ironic one, which greeted the substitution of Anton Rodgers for Yaser Kasim in the second half.

It was a harsh assessment for a player who had performed no worse than many his team-mates but seems to be the focal point of the Town fans’ ire.

To be fair to the long-suffering Swindon faithful, it is not difficult to see why they are voting with their feet at present.

There has been very little to cheer in an undistinguished season so far and those people that do turn up at SN1 come rain or shine can be forgiven for doing so more in hope than expectation.

However, the two go hand in hand. With poor results naturally come lower crowds, while a less vocal support is almost inevitably only able to inspire a performance bereft of entertainment.

It’s a vicious circle but one that only a combination of players and supporters alike can correct.

All those associated with the club both on the field and off it must keep the faith until the end of the season to turn the current dire situation around.

James Brophy trudges off after being shown his second yellow card

The Swindon coaching staff made two changes to the side that had also drawn at home in the previous outing five days earlier.

That goalless draw against Southend was the last appearance for both Darnell Furlong and Michael Doughty following the duo’s recall from their loan spells at the County Ground by parent club Queens Park Rangers. Their places at right-back and in midfield respectively were taken by Bradley Barry and Sean Murray.

Midfielder Kasim was fit enough to return to the matchday squad, although an illness on Friday restricted him to a place on the bench, which also included youngsters Jake Evans and Louis Spalding, highlighting the threadbare nature of the Swindon squad at present.

After a cagey opening to proceedings, the first shot of the day eventually materialised after 10 minutes, although it was far from threatening. Conor Thomas’ ball through to Jonathan Obika was a touch over-hit but the Swindon striker gamely gave chase, picked up possession and spun to crack in a shot from 20 yards but it sailed way over the top.

Obika looked the most dangerous of Town’s offensive players and did well to create the hosts’ next chance two minutes later, skipping into the Shrews' box on the left and pulling the ball across goal but Adam El-Abd was able to get to the ball ahead of Goddard.

Striker Obika then rose highest to meet Murray’s resulting corner but the home forward did not get a clean contact and his header drifted safely wide.

The visitors seemed content to put everyone behind the ball and Swindon struggled to break that down, although the one time they did on 20 minutes, it took a fine piece of goalkeeping to deny them the opening goal.

Again there was a good combination between Obika and Goddard as the latter threaded his striker in on the right of the box but Shrews stopper Jayson Leutwiler raced off his line quickly and a combination of him and defender Nsiala deflected the strike over the top.

Murray was able to pick out a Swindon colleague from the ensuing corner once more but Lloyd Jones was unable to divert the ball home at the back post.

Shrewsbury had mainly been restricted to half-chances on the counter-attack and home goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux had to be alert two minutes before the break to keep the deadlock intact at half-time. Sadler met a cross from fellow full-back Joe Riley and the back-pedalling Swindon number one was forced to tip the looped header over the bar.

Swindon were the more positive side after the restart and went close to the opening goal after just four minutes. Norris held the ball up well on the left and then released Murray to win a corner and his set-piece was met with a powerful header by Raphael Branco, which flew narrowly over the top.

The hosts did not have to wait long to get the breakthrough, though, as they were awarded a penalty from their next attack.

Murray sent Norris in on goal and he was challenged by Leutwiler but won possession, only to be chopped down by Nsiala, with referee Miller pointing to the spot as well as brandishing a straight red card to the Shrews defender.

Goddard was the man to take responsibility from 12 yards and, after a lengthy delay as Norris received treatment, smashed the ball straight down the middle.

Swindon were unable to sit back and relax, though, and Shrewsbury enjoyed a good chance on the hour when Freddie Ladaopo got his foot on the ball 12 yards out but his strike cannoned off the head of defender Jones and flew over the top.

The hosts heeded the warning and should have had a second goal soon afterwards when Obika sent Goddard in one-on-one with Leutwiler but the midfielder took a fraction too long to shoot and Sadler appeared from nowhere to get a brilliant challenge.

Having looked comfortably on top, Swindon’s numerical advantage was cancelled out with 20 minutes to go when two silly challenges from Brophy saw him booked twice in the space of three minutes as the home side suddenly found themselves down to 10 men too.

With parity in numbers restored, Shrewsbury were next to threaten as Gary Deegan was allowed to send in a goal-bound effort inside the box but again Jones got his body in the way.

After sending out plenty of warnings, the visitors did draw level with 10 minutes to go when Sadler rose highest to meet substitute Shaun Whalley’s deep free-kick from the left.

The full-back powered a header onto the bar, which bounced up and down between woodwork and goalline twice, with the officials eventually allowing the effort to stand despite the protests of the home defenders.

Play swung from end-to-end at a rapid pace in the closing stages as the two sides chased a winner and although both defences looked worrying exposed on occasions, no telling chance was created and the teams had to make do with a point each.