No tricks just three treats from Swindon Town who claimed impressive win away to Port Vale

The superb 3-0 victory at Port Vale on Saturday meant that Town can now lay claim to the best away record in English football.

What’s spookiest of all is that David Flitcroft’s side secure success on their travels with terrifying consistency.

Eight times now they have gone on the prowl for points away from Wiltshire and on six occasions they have returned with all three to their name.

That frightening form has catapulted them up to fifth in the table and the teams in the automatic promotion spots should now be looking back worried over their shoulder as Town are just three points off the top three.

After tricking their hosts into a false sense of security during a lacklustre first half at Vale Park in which neither goalkeeper had a save to make, Swindon served up three treats for their travelling supporters after the break.

Town's travelling support has been rewarded so far this term

Matt Taylor was the first to send a warning to the Valiants when he broke the deadlock with sublime free-kick six minutes into the second period from the first shot on target of the match.

More terror then struck the home side when they fell two goals behind thanks to Paul Mullin’s low header and Vale were left cowering behind the sofa before the end when Kellan Gordon completed the rout with his first goal for the club by finishing off a crisp counter attack.

Paul Mullin's header put Swindon 2-0 up at Vale Park

Flitcroft named an unchanged team from the one that edged to a narrow 1-0 win at home to Wycombe Wanderers the previous weekend, with the Town boss fulfilling his pre-match promise to keep faith with Riece Charles-Cook in goal.

Regular number one Lawrence Vigouroux was available for selection again after serving a four-match suspension but was left out of the matchday squad altogether as Will Henry retained his place on the bench.

In fact, Flitcroft made just one alteration from the 18 that took on Wycombe as on-loan midfielder Timi Elsnik was named amongst the substitutes after missing the last five games with a groin injury, with Ellis Iandolo the unlucky man to miss out.

Town were the first to show a nice passage of play with eight minutes on the clock with Donal McDermott guiding a low ball into the box from the left but it was just behind the run of Amine Linganzi and home keeper Dimitar Evtimov was able to gather.

Kellan Gordan sealed the win with Town's third goal

Vale then got a couple of good deliveries into the Swindon area but the visiting defence comfortably dealt with whatever was thrown at them.

Swindon did have the ball in the back of the net after 14 minutes when Matt Preston headed in a whipped Taylor free-kick via the post after Keshi Anderson had been brought down but the effort was chalked off by a linesman’s flag.

Town were awarded another free-kick in a good position soon afterwards when Linganzi was brought down. John Goddard stepped up this time but sent his effort over the bar.

Free-kicks were becoming a theme in the contest as few chances were created in open play and Vale were awarded one of their own 30 yards out but Olly Lancashire headed away David Worrall’s ball in.

The visitors were able to carve open a sight at goal just after the half-hour mark when Linganzi fed Goddard and although he turned and shot from the edge of the box, the effort was well wide.

Timi Elsnik returned to the the first team after injury

It was a similar story at the other end as Worrall sent a 20-yard free-kick into the stands behind the goal after Lancashire had bundled over Tom Pope.

After a comfortable first 45 minutes, there was suddenly a moment of panic for Charles-Cook as the clocked ticked into stoppage time when he misjudged a cross from the left from Gavin Gunning but the Swindon stopper gathered at the second attempt and the teams headed back to the changing rooms with the stalemate intact and neither keeper having had a save to make.

Town again made the early running after the restart and broke the deadlock just six minutes into the second half through a stunning strike from Taylor. McDermott was bundled over by Cristian Montano and Taylor drilled the resulting free-kick past Evtimov and into the top corner.

Vale went close to an instant equaliser as Tom Anderson climbed highest to meet a Montano corner at the back post but he could only head wide.

The home side took until 66 minutes in to register their first shot on target but Charles-Cook was able to claim comfortably after Marcus Harness let fly from 30 yards.

Town have now recorded consecutive wins for the second time

Having already sent on Elsnik for Goddard, Flitcroft responded by adding more pace into the Town attack with the introduction of Mullin at the expense of McDermott and it had an instant impact as he doubled the lead after 71 minutes. Evtimov misjudged Taylor’s high floated ball from the left and Mullin was able to sneak in and head home.

Vale did not fold after falling two goals behind and Charles-Cook did well to claw away Tom Anderson’s looping header from a corner.

Flitcroft opted to stick with goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook

However, Town wrapped up the win four minutes from time when Gordon – who had only just come to replace Anderson – made it a second substitute’s goal, with Vale opened up on the counter after they had flooded forward. Elsnik fed Harry Smith on halfway and he raced into the box before cutting back to the unmarked Gordon to slot home and seal the win.

Having been largely untroubled throughout the match, Charles-Cook proved he still had his wits about him two minutes into stoppage time, making his best save of the game to push away Vale substitute Jack Stobbs’ low effort and ensure Town had the pleasure of travelling home with a clean sheet as well as the three points.