SWINDON Town never recovered from conceding three first-half Wolves goals last night before eventually falling to a 4-1 defeat to the league leaders.

Bakary Sako scored twice and Nouha Dicko once as Town’s flat-footed defence was split open time and again during a shambolic first period and, although the hosts’ much-improved display in the second period brought a goal for Michael Smith, it wasn’t enough to trouble the league leaders before Leon Clarke pounced to add a fourth in stoppage time.

Both sides kept the ball well in the opening minutes without either keeper being troubled, but that all changed after only nine minutes when Sako ghosted between a host of Town defenders to head home James Henry’s cross and give his side the lead.

The Town defence was split open again just 10 minutes later when Sako’s ball allowed Dicko to thump past Tyrell Belford and, although Town did create a couple of chances, Sako’s second ended the contest before half-time.

Town came out for the second half with renewed belief as they kept the ball well and looked to probe Wolves at every opportunity, and after a flurry of efforts off target the Robins soon had one back as Smith brought the ball down, turned Richard Stearman and swept the ball home.

The goal, along with Town’s improvement after the break and another County Ground return from Leon Clarke, brought the home crowd into the game but it wasn’t enough as Clarke fired home his side’s fourth in added time.