Holloway: My Robins better than Three Lions!

By Matt Taylor

Att: 7,168 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Aaron Bannister 7/10

SWINDON TOWN 0

SWINDON: Ripley 7, Cain 7, Wright 7, Clarke 7, Sobowale 6, Ofoborh 6, Kilkenny 6, Tshimanga 6 (Westley 74, 6), Nichols 6 (Butterworth 74, 6), Glatzel 7 (Botan Ameen 73, 6), Smith 8. Subs not used: Bycroft, Cox, Freckleton, Kirkman.

ACCRINGTON ST 0

ACCRINGTON: Crellin 7, Ward 7, Rawson 7, Matthews 7, Batty 6 (Quirk 92), B Woods 6, Conneely 7 (Grant 66, 5), Love 7, Henderson 6 (Brown 83, 6), J Woods 7 (Caton 83, 6), Mooney 6. Subs not used: Aljofree, Coyle, Kelly.

IAN HOLLOWAY says he prefers watching his Swindon side over England after blasting the Three Lions’ 2-0win over Albania as “crap” and “absolute garbage”.

The Town boss was pleased to get a clean sheet after shipping three goals at home the previous week.

Referring to the England game, he said: “That was crap, right? I almost turned over, and I would have watched our game over that game all day long, that’s the gospel truth. I think it was absolute garbage. Pass backwards, square, sideways.

“So if everybody’s expecting a miracle from this new fella, hold on. Are we really that good?

“My team’s getting better. I think our game’s

much more exciting than England, that was boring.”

The point does little for Town’s dwindling play-off hopes, barring a virtually immaculate finale.

Holloway said: “Doncaster did it last year, they won nine out of 10 I think. They got in the playoffs. So who’s to say we can’t? That’s a dream I have, whether it works or not, I don’t care.”

Town centre-back Will Wright had the first chance as he went close with a dipping free-kick.

The Robins breathed a sigh of relief when Accrington skipper Seamus Conneely hit a post from Josh Woods’ set-piece. Tom Nichols then picked out Paul Glatzel lurking free at the visitors’ back post, but the ex-Liverpool man somehow jabbed wide.

Nichols set up Harry Smith with a perfect knock down only for the striker to fire straight at the keeper.

Stanley’s Alex Henderson should have done much better than shank over after a neat backheel by Josh Woods.

A last-ditch block by Devon Matthews stopped Smith jabbing home Kilkenny’s low centre.

George Cox then swung in a dangerous near-post cross for fellow Town sub Joe Westley who headed over. He then neat-ly turned and hit a fierce shot destined for the top corner, but Billy Crellin got a firm hand to it. Danny Butterworth jinked through the visitors’ midfield, but his shot was no trouble for Crellin and Stanley held on.

Accrington boss John Doolan said: “They had a couple of chances. It’s a tough place to come.

“They’ve got a bit of momentum in terms of what they’ve been doing well themselves. So it’s a tough point and well earned. The back five were outstanding. The whole team were in terms of defending.”