Adver Sport's analysis of Swindon Town's 2-1 FA Cup first round win at home to York City

While a selection of supporters will highlight and underline the two slightly lacklustre 10-minute periods either side of the half-time whistle, the stats of the contest do not lie.

Couple Town’s 63 per cent of possession with their 22 shots on goal and it underlines that Town have an eye for goal – but perhaps not that clinical spark as chances again came and went.

However, the win was still not enough to keep Phil Brown in a job, with the club opting to relieve him of his duties as manager little more than 24 hours after the full-time whistle against York amid what is still a disappointing start to the new season.

Looking ahead, headaches have been caused from this tie – a largely solid defensive performance will put Olly Lancashire’s shirt under threat, while at the other end of the pitch, Scott Twine showed no signs of nervousness after notching his first senior goal in a Swindon shirt.

There were moments of unrest in the grandstands, of course.

Town’s ability to ‘freeze’ when making decent progress through York’s half returned on the hour mark, however, James Dunne cancelled those issues out before Swindon’s pressure became too much for Sam Collins’ men – who conceded with 14 minutes of the game remaining.

It was teenager Twine who initially put Town ahead before a brave York equalised a couple of minutes before the half-time whistle through David Ferguson.

A second-half strike from Steven Alzate following a gradual build-up of pressure saw Town re-take the lead and earn their first home victory in more than two months.

In what would prove to be his final team selection as Town manager, Brown made seven changes to the side that were beaten by a goal at Colchester United a week ago.

Defenders Lancashire, Kyle Knoyle, Joe Romanski and Matt Taylor were all preferred to a back three consisting of Sid Nelson in the centre with Dion Conroy on his left and Luke Woolfenden on the right.

Martin Smith and Jak McCourt were axed from the midfield, while Marc Richards missed out through injury.

Swindon started the game brighter but had to wait until the eighth minute to force York stopper Adam Bartlett into a save from a free-kick.

A foul on Twine 25 yards from City’s goalline was struck by Keshi Anderson, whose dipping effort resulted in nervous punch by Bartlett before Woolfenden’s follow-up header didn’t have the power behind it to threaten.

Swindon teenager Twine experienced a moment to savour four minutes later when back-heeling Town into the lead.

Winger Jermaine McGlashan managed to cross the ball in from the right in the nick of time before Twine’s back-heel rebounded off Bartlett’s far post and trickled into the net.

The goal was Twine’s first for the first team in 12 competitive appearances.

Town’s opener certainly inspired Twine to try his chance on a more frequent basis.

He first crashed a volleyed effort onto Bartlett’s post before a more ambitious strike from 25 yards was blasted high into the Stratton Bank.

Although Town were generally in control of the contest, visitors York displayed flashes of confidence when moving forward – in particular on the right wing where Nathan Dyer was emerging into areas of unchallenged space.

This eventually led to a corner, from which Joe Davis’ header took a wicked deflection off Jordan Burrow’s knee before flashing wide of home keeper Lawrence Vigouroux’s top left corner.

City’s first genuine chance of the game prompted Town’s lacklustre style from recent home games to return, namely when persistent passing between the back three eventually led to Conroy trying his luck from 25 yards – which ended unsuccessfully.

Conroy continued to impress in his left back role as two accurate cross-field balls were met by an advancing McGlashan on the right wing.

The first cross was followed by a City clearance before Conroy’s similar second delivery led to a volley from Dunne, whose effort was directed just wide on 39 minutes.

York equalised against the run of play, though, with a clinical finish by Ferguson following another unchallenged cross from Dyer.

Dyer escaped marker Conroy before looping his cross into the 18-yard box.

While City’s initial chance was saved by Vigouroux, Ferguson towered over McGlashan to level the contest with only three minutes remaining in the half.

The goal dampened Town’s first-half efforts, which up to that point had been – generally – positive.

That positive edge evaded Town’s traits in the opening minutes of the second half as fans’ restless attitude on the terraces quickly returned.

Kallum Griffiths forced Vigouroux into an awkward early save after his accurate 30-yard drive tested Town’s stopper.

Elijah Adebayo continued to struggle in his search to hit the target as a cross from Ellis Iandolo was headed high before Twine similarly ballooned his effort from outside the area over City’s crossbar with 54 minutes played.

On the hour mark, Anderson could only watch his header from the penalty spot drift wide after Iandolo rescued Adebayo’s poor pass from the edge of City’s box.

Cries of frustration from home supporters returned when Dyer almost put City ahead after he met Ferguson’s cross in the penalty area.

Dunne responded to those cries by bursting through York’s half and gifting Adebayo a chance to re-establish Town’s one-goal lead, but the Fulham loanee’s effort was weak and comfortably saved by Bartlett’s right leg.

Swindon’s persistence in front of goal eventually led to them re-taking the lead.

Anderson burst into space on the right and found Alzate on the penalty spot, who leisurely slotted his effort into Bartlett’s net with 16 minutes remaining.

Alzate’s goal prompted City boss Collins to introduce Jon Parkin to York’s attacking threats.

And the striker had a sight on goal with his first touch of the game when a whipped ball from the left was headed just wide.

A slightly lacklustre conclusion to the game from both teams resulted in Town booking their spot in the second-round hat – although that achievement didn’t come as easy as some presumed.