IS THERE ever such a thing as a good defeat?

Perhaps not, but Swindon Town’s narrow 1-0 reverse at home to Peterborough United on Saturday is maybe as close as you can get.

This was not a poor performance by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, there was a real zip about Town’s play for the majority of the first half and patches of the second too.

The crowd at the County Ground seemed as enthused as they have been for a while in lieu of the genuine entertainment that was being served up.

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Peterborough take the lead on Saturday

The only disappointing thing was that Swindon were caught cold immediately after half-time, perhaps still with their heads in the changing rooms lapping up deserved praise from the coaching staff, as some slack defending allowed Posh midfield maestro Marcus Maddison to waltz up the left and pick out captain Chris Forrester in the box to net the decisive goal within a minute of the restart.

This match had all the hallmarks of Town’s last fixture a week earlier at Bolton Wanderers. Although Swindon played the more eye-catching football, it was their opponents who had the better of the chances.

What they would have given for the outcome to be the same too but try as they might to muster a response, there was no comeback win this time as Town had to accept the ending of their unbeaten 2017 as well as five-match run without a League One defeat at the County Ground.

However, in this latest loss there was no spectacular capitulation to a one-side drubbing, which we have seen all too often this season. Swindon did not revert back into their shells at going behind and could not be found wanting for attacking intent in an effort to get back into the game, it’s just that one killer chance could not be mustered.

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The Town faithful watch their team

Nor will this defeat leave the wounds of a gut-wrenching late goal that condemned them to another pointless afternoon and have even more confidence drained away as a result.

It should not be glossed over that Town came away from another game with nothing to show for their efforts, no shots on target and remain perilously close to the relegation zone. Football is a results business and given the team’s plight at present, performances should play second fiddle to points.

However, it should not be all doom and gloom either and everyone associated with the club, both on the pitch and in the stands, should take positives from the Posh performance and feel encouraged that there is plenty to work with and ample time left before the end of the season to do it.

Town were given a big boost before kick-off with club captain Nathan Thompson fit to return to the starting line-up after missing the last three games through injury having limped off against Milton Keynes Dons in the final match of 2016.

He took the place of makeshift right-back Conor Thomas, who dropped down to the bench in the only change to the side that claimed that memorable 2-1 victory away at Bolton a week earlier.

However, Jonathan Obika missed out altogether again as he continues his recovery from an injury of his own, leaving Jermaine Hylton as the sole striking option amongst the substitutes after Nathan Delfouneso’s departure from the club a day earlier.

Town were grateful to goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux for preventing them from falling behind after only five minutes, with the Chilean getting down brilliantly to push centre-back Ryan Tafazolli’s header around the post following a Maddison free-kick from the left.

That proved to be the best chance of the first half, although there was no shortage of action and Town had their first sight of goal on 13 minutes when midfielder Yaser Kasim skipped into the box and opened his body to shoot but Michael Bostwick got in a crucial block.

The home side had a real flamboyance about them in attack and threatened again when skipper Thompson sent in a low cross from the right but on-loan striker Islam Feruz could not get a clean connection on his shot and it looped safely into the air.

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Luke Norris challenges Peterborough's Dominic Ball

Swindon still had to be wary at the back and an excellent pass over the top from Dominic Ball found Posh frontman Tom Nichols, who had split Thompson and Rapahel Branco, but he cracked an effort over the top.

Ben Gladwin continued where he left off against Bolton last week and launched another Town attack with a superb ball to John Goddard, who in turn found striker Luke Norris in the box, but Tafazolli got in a superb last-ditch block.

The home fans had their hearts in their mouths from the ensuing corner as Peterborough countered at pace and Thompson was left with no choice but to bundle over Lee Angol and collect a booking as the United forward looked to race in on goal.

From Maddison’s resulting free-kick, Angol flicked a cheeky back-heel at the ball, which flew narrowly over the crossbar.

The action continued to flow from end to end and a deep Charlie Colkett cross fell to Thompson on the right of the Peterborough box and although his effort was blocked, it dropped perfectly to Gladwin, who saw a shot denied by the diving Ball, who flung himself in the way.

The visitors were incensed soon afterwards when Maddison was left in a heap on halfway but referee Trevor Kettle allowed play to continue and goalkeeper Luke McGee was forced to push a Feruz strike around the post.

The final chance of a breathless first 45 minutes fell the way of the visitors when Andrew Hughes found Nichols in space in the six-yard box but he could only divert the ball over the top as the teams headed to the changing rooms all-square.

After impressing in the first half, Town were caught cold within a minute of the restart as United got their noses in front. Maddison swung the ball from left to right and Posh skipper Forrester turned Lloyd Jones before unleashing a low effort that Vigouroux got a hand to but could not keep out.

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Islam Feruz in action on his home debut

Town were the first to make a change and Hylton replaced Feruz up top just before the hour mark, with the forward almost making an instant impact. A short corner eventually came his way in the box but Hylton could not quite get the ball under control and McGee darted from his line to claim.

Peterborough should have had a second goal soon afterwards but spurned a gilt-edged chance when Goddard felled Bostwick 30 yards out. Tafazolli found space in the six-yard box to meet Maddison’s delivery with a free header but inexcusably sent it straight at Vigouroux.

Town were not going to go down without a fight and Goddard drilled a low ball across the box and Colkett collected to smash goalwards but again there was a body in the way.

Swindon were then almost caught out as they flooded forwards in numbers, with the visitors countering at pace as Maddison darted into the box but Branco did just enough to put him off his strike.

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Skipper Nathan Thompson was back in the starting XI on Saturday

Substitute Jordan Stewart looked to make an instant impression for Town after coming on in the closing stages and he whipped in an excellent low cross from the left but McGee dived at the feet of Hylton to keep the hosts out.

That proved to be the last chance for Town as they were unable to fashion out an equaliser and at the final whistle were left still looking over their shoulder in worried fashion just above the relegation zone.