SPEAKING to Danny Wilson after last night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy quarter-final defeat against Norwich, you wouldn't have believed his side had just been dumped out of the competition on penalties.

Most managers would have been bemoaning the lottery that is spot-kicks, possibly even the guilty culprit of a missed sitter in normal time which would have prevented the shoot-out.

But Swindon's boss was instead intent on focusing on his side's second half display, which left Norwich almost unable to get out of their half.

That Craig Easton missed Town's crucial fourth penalty, allowing former County Ground striker Jamie Cureton to slot home the winner for the Canaries, was of little importance to Wilson – all he cared about was making sure his men got the praise they deserved.

“It was a cracking game,” he explained. “As the second half went on I thought you saw two cracking teams out there and for the last 25 minutes that was us at our best.

“We were exceptional at times. The football we played and the tempo we played at was fantastic, and credit to Norwich for staying with us in that period, because a lot of teams would have buckled in that period.

“We played well, we passed it well and we defended well. Phil (Smith) was not a bystander because he kept a good goal again and looked very secure and reliable.

“But there was some great work that went in from midfield and from the full-backs today.

“We got a great supply of service and consistent balls going into areas.

“Their two centre-backs were outstanding for them today and did very well. They got a little bit lucky at times with one or two balls they've cleared, but you can see why they get the type of quality player that they do.

“Our passing, tempo and movement in the second half was excellent, and lets hope we can build on it.

Norwich had the first opportunity of the game within two minutes, but Paul McVeigh’s volley from Scott Cuthbert’s weak clearance failed to trouble Phil Smith in the Swindon goal.

Town missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the eighth minute. Alex Revell squirmed away from a challenge before slipping in Jon-Paul McGovern down the right.

His first time cross was met by Billy Paynter unmarked six yards out and the front man somehow shanked his shot horribly wide.

As Norwich began to dominate possession Phil Smith came to Swindon's aid. Gordon Greer was outpaced by Cody McDonald, and with Kevin Amankwaah coming across to cover, Smith made a smart save with his legs to keep out the resulting low strike.

On 37 minutes Norwich keeper Fraser Forster was forced into his first save, keeping out Scott Cuthbert's effort after McGovern's initial free-kick had been blocked.

Within a minute of the restart Ben Hutchinson had stung the palms of Forster, before the keeper was called to make a regulation save from Revell's low 20-yard drive.

But in the 57th minute Cody McDonald should have put the visitors in front. The striker met Paul McVeigh's corner with a powerful free header from eight yards only to direct it straight at Smith.

Paynter fizzed a shot just past Forster's upright, before Wilson switched his striking options with a double change, replacing Alex Revell and Ben Hutchinson with Charlie Austin and Anthony McNamee.

The Canaries were offering very little going forward, and an Owain Tudur Jones strike from 30 yards which was lashed high and wide, summed up their attacking play.

Austin almost made himself a hero in the 85th minute when he met Jean-Francois' left-wing cross with a bullet of a diving header, forcing Forster into a smart diving stop.

But despite some heavy late pressure, they were unable to find a way past the big on-loan Newcastle man, and the tie went to penalties.

Paynter, Austin and Amankwaah were successful for Town, while Tudur Jones, Stephen Hughes, Michael Nelson and Jens Berthel Askou netted for the Canaries.

But Easton's penalty was far too close to Forster and it was a simple stop for the keeper, leaving Cureton the chance to wrap up the win, which he gladly did.

But Wilson remained philosophical. He said: “I was disappointed it was decided on penalties. If it happens in the last minute of a game then maybe you can accept it a bit better. But we cannot bemoan the way we played today because it was excellent.”

n FORMER Town assistant manager Gus Poyet has been named as the new Brighton boss.