Town - 0
TOWN were beaten 2-0 at fellow promotion rivals Sheffield United.
Goals in either half from the Blades condemned Swindon to their second away defeat of the week.
Kevin MacDonald made two changes to the starting XI with James Collins and Raffaele De Vita both coming into the side. Alan Navarro dropped to the bench.
Town were under the cosh for the majority of the first half and had a taste of what was to come as early as the third minute when Tony McMahon’s free kick came back off the woodwork. The visitors then had to clear off the line twice in quick succession before Wes Foderingham was called upon to deny a one-on-one chance as well as a well-directed shot at goal.
Massimo Luongo volleyed over in between times and Michael Doyle almost caught Swindon napping when the Blades took a free kick. Darren Ward fouled his man and, as Town retreated to set themselves for the free-kick, the home side took it quick but the Blades skipper could only roll his effort across goal and wide. Porter was also guilty of missing a chance when he too fired across goal.
James Collins saw his effort tipped over before United took the lead with 37 minutes on the clock. A free kick was swung in from the right and Chris Porter was the first to reach it, powering a header home past Foderingham.
The home side could have been further in front before the break but Alan McCormack was forced to clear off the line and McMahon took a layer of paint off the upright when he curled his second free-kick of the afternoon against the post.
Town were the first ones out for the second half and this eagerness was translated onto the pitch. Nathan Byrne lashed wide and substitute Adam Rooney arrowed a shot over. Ward headed wide from a corner and Luke Rooney, also a second-half change, shot narrowly wide.
Moments before, Simon Ferry made a sensational last-ditch challenge to deny Kitson when he was through on goal. With seven minutes to play however, it was Kitson who doubled United’s advantage. Another cross from the right was met by the striker and he glanced home across Foderingham and into the far corner.
In the dying embers of the match, Adam Rooney fired wide from the edge of the area.
Swindon Town: Wes Foderingham; Nathan Byrne, Aden Flint, Darren Ward, Alan McCormack (capt); Gary Roberts, Simon Ferry, Massimo Luongo, Raffaele De Vita; James Collins, Andy Williams
Substittues: Leigh Bedwell, Joe Devera, Alan Navarro, Luke Rooney, Adam Rooney, Connor Waldon, Mark Francis
Sheffield United: George Long, Harry Maguire, Matt Hill, Ryan Flynn, Michael Doyle (capt), Chris Porter, Kevin McDonald, Dave Kitson, Neill Collins, Jamie Murphy, Tony McMahon
Substitutes: Danny Higginbotham, Jonathan Forte, Barry Robson, Joe Ironside, Callum McFadzean, Elliott Whitehouse, Danny Coyne
