Second half trio bags the win and sees Swindon up to third

In a forgettable opening 45 minutes at Barnsley, the second half was superb.

The way that Mark Cooper’s men show maturity, to maintain their composure and not get distracted from their game, is a credit to the work that is being done at the County Ground.

To know that this young squad has gone through September unbeaten, only dropping two points and scoring 14 goals in five matches shows, just what they are capable of this year.

Now of course, it is a little early to get excited about the what may happen this term, after all, the campaign is but two months old.

Yet there is a feel good factor around SN1 that hints this could be an impressive year.

Teams are changing the way they set up when they know that they have to tackle Cooper’s young stars.

Jake Reeves scores Town's second goal against Barnsley

Danny Wilson’s men aren’t the first to do it this season and they won’t be the last.

What must be pleasing for Cooper and Luke Williams is that it is the home teams that are changing the way they are playing rather than Swindon having a different game plan for when they hit the road.

Barnsley, who played a 4-4-2 system against Port Vale in their previous outing, opted to go with three strikers to try and pressurise Town’s back three.

For the majority of the first half both side nullified each other.

As Barnsley pressed, Town waited, and waited. They knew that Wilson’s men could not sustain the energy levels they were producing for the entire 90 minutes.

It was Swindon’s patience, and maturity, against the Tykes that really stood out – well that and the impressive Nathan Byrne.

Having made several changes to the side that defeated Newport County in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night, Cooper returned to the tried and tested XI that has stood him in good stead in League One.

With Massimo Luongo and Yaser Kasim back in the heart of the team, Jake Reeves and Jack Barthram returned to the bench.

In defence Josh Lelan, whose loan spell at the club is now over, was not in the matchday squad as Jack Stephens made his first appearance for Town since his return from Southampton with Raphael Branco out injured.

Brad Smith missed out at Barnsley too as the Australian international continues to struggle with a groin injury. That allowed new loan signing Amari’i Bell to make his debut having arrived at the club from Birmingham City.

The first half was dull and lifeless, neither keeper had much to do - in fact Town stopper Wes Foderingham barely had a save to make throughout the whole game.

More experienced teams than the Robins could have easily got frustrated, look to play the ball long, try to change their entire footballing philosophy, just to find a breakthrough.

Yet, Cooper et al have instilled a belief that the way Town play is the right way and that they just need to have faith that the goal will come.

When it did, wasn’t it worth waiting for?

Byrne had been a constant nightmare for Joe Dudgeon and the former Tottenham youngster – who had been coming under a bit of well meaning pressure from his family to score – made it 1-0 The 22-year-old right wing-back left Dudgeon for dead and with Tykes’ keeper Ross Turnbull bearing down on him, he struck the ball with the outside of his boot to find the target.

Swindon, however, were not home and dry. Barnsley, while not having a killer instinct in front of the Town, pushed hard – even if it was to no avail.

Town put the game to bed eight minutes from time when Luongo picked out Byrne and he pushed forward sent in a teasing cross that Reeves calmly tucked away.

Andy Williams nets Town's third

Two, quickly became three, as work-horse forward Michael Smith won the ball from the restart and charged down the right wing.

Smith’s cross found Reeves and his miss-timed shot went into the path of fellow substitute Andy Williams, who he bagged his fourth goal in as many games.

Cooper will need that form from Williams to continue as well because the club are waiting to discover the full extent of Jonathan Obika’s shoulder injury.

The striker went down early in the first half. While he got back to his feet and continued it was clear that the deadline day signing was in a fair amount of pain.

Cooper withdrew the striker, who before the game had netted five goals in four outings, and revealed after the match that Obika had damaged the ligaments in his shoulder.

Obika’s arrival has coincided with Swindon’s impressive run, but it is not all down to him.

His goals have helped, but the majority of them are true strikers goals and if Swindon can keep producing football like they have been then the goals will continue to flow.