THE FULL REPORT: Town's road to glory

The band of hardy supporters who have followed their side the length and breadth of the country during a campaign which can be kindly described as difficult have been rewarded since the turn of the year.

The club’s two standout performances have come on the road in 2017, a shock 2-1 victory away to Bolton Wanderers followed up by a more expected, but no less grateful, three points on Saturday.

When the heavens opened just prior to 3pm, you can forgive those who have seen more heartache than reward this season for starting to wonder why they bothered again, and the opening half-an-hour left little to the imagination as two struggling teams slogged it out to gain control in a game neither could afford to lose.

However, when Nicky Ajose’s long wait to resume his goalscoring exploits in a Town shirt ended in the 32nd minute, opening up his body to tap home Ben Gladwin’s cross from close-range, that rare sense of optimism started to flow back through the veins of those behind the goal.

It was pumping through the body at a rate of knots just six minutes later when Charlie Colkett’s ball back into the box was headed in by Jonathan Obika.

Ajose ensured the Town faithful, who had opted to make one of the shorter of the away trips in League One, were rewarded when he was on hand at the back post to turn home Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill’s cross in the 71st minute.

George Thomas’ consolation goal in time added on did little to quell the jubilation of the away support and as Swindon's players gathered in a huddle in front of them at the final whistle to soak in the rare feeling of a victory, the onlooking fans providing a hopeful soundtrack with chants of: ‘we are staying up’.

Town skipper Nathan Thompson (left) is reunited with former team-mate Jordan Turnbull before kick-off

Luke Williams named an unchanged starting XI for only the second time this season and the first time in the league this campaign, having last done so in November's FA Cup replay against Eastleigh, Town having beaten Charlton Athletic 3-0 the game prior.

The only change to the matchday squad came on the substitute’s bench, with Jordan Stewart coming in to replace out-of-favour Yaser Kasim, who it was later revealed had sustained a recurrence of an ankle injury that has blighted him for three months.

It was also an unchanged side for Russell Slade’s Coventry side, with Stuart Beavon and Charles Vernom returning to claim places on the bench.

Coventry, who put an end to a run of 15 games without a win last weekend against Gillingham, had the first shot on target in the ninth minute after an opening period that reflected the lowly league positions of both clubs.

Kevin Foley played a corner in from Coventry’s right and Marcus Tudgay popped up unmarked, but his half-volley was into the ground and looped up nicely for Lawrence Vigouroux to claim.

That seemed to spark the game into life and it wasn’t long before Obika was holding off Andy Rose and playing an inviting ball into the path of Ajose, only for former Swindon defender Jordan Turnbull to cut out the danger.

In the 12th minute, Rose let a big chance that fell to him inside the Swindon box go to waste, after George Thomas had done well to keep the ball for the hosts on the edge of the box.

His cross found Kwame Thomas with his back to goal but his shot on the turn was scuffed and it was a comfortable save in the end for Vigouroux.

At the other end, James Brophy was given the chance to stretch his legs and drove in off the right wing before letting fly from the edge of the box, with Lee Burge only able to palm his effort around his post.

The resulting corner was played deep to the head of Lloyd Jones, with the ball eventually making its way to the feet of skipper Nathan Thompson.

His first shot was blocked, with faint shouts of handball from the red shirts in the box, before his second attempt whisked past Burge’s far post.

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill is held up by Coventry's Dion Kelly-Evans

In the 21st minute, Vigouroux had to be alert again when George Thomas’ cross found Kwame Thomas with his back to goal.

The in-form forward, who has netted twice in his last three appearances, held off Jones at the near post but his shot on the turn, whilst low, lacked the necessary power to get under the body of the Swindon goalkeeper.

In a game lacking quality in the opening half-an-hour, it was a well-worked move by Swindon that opened the scoring.

Ormonde-Ottewill jinked inside before playing the ball back out to Gladwin, whose dummy had the beating of George Thomas before his cross found Ajose floating into the six-yard box unmarked to tap in with his right foot.

Swindon had their tails up and only a fine sliding challenge from Turnbull prevented Ajose latching on to a through ball from Obika and doubling his tally.

However, the resulting corner for Town was only half-cleared and when the ball worked its way back out to the left, Colkett was able to deliver an inviting ball into the six-yard box and Obika outmuscled his marker to scoop low and head home.

Town were able to keep hold of their 2-0 lead, the first time they had held such an advantage since November, heading into the break after some good defending from Jones to cut out a Rose cross.

The Coventry man, who had been influential for the hosts in the first half, was removed at the interval, with Beavon returning from injury.

The hosts started the second half intent to pull a goal back early and claw their way back into a game that was slipping out of their grasp.

A barrage of corners looked their best route as they kept Town pinned in their own box and when skipper Clarke fired just wide of Vigouroux’s left-hand post, the frustration at the dubious awarding of the set-piece, as well as he pressure of the match, showed on the usually calm Williams on the touchline, as he was seen sarcastically clapping at the fourth official, a gesture that got him a ticking off.

Swindon had the chance to further extend their advantage in the 53rd minute when Gladwin flicked on Vigouroux’s goal kick into the path of Ajose.

Having done well to control the bouncing ball and take it around Burge, off-balance with the goal gaping, the Town forward could only watch on in despair as his effort on went over the bar.

There was cause for concern in the 61st minute when defender Lloyd Jones went down in his own half and required treatment on an ailment, which saw him eventually come off in the 73rd minute.

Intent on adding to his tally for the afternoon and making amends for his earlier miss, Ajose looked to get in behind the Coventry defence in the 67th minute but was stopped in his tracks by Burge, who was off his line quickly.

Swindon were able to get their third and Ajose’s second four minutes later when Gladwin worked the ball out to Ormonde-Ottewill.

With James Brophy making the overlapping run, the former Arsenal man drilled the ball towards the back post and Ajose was on hand with a poacher’s finish to calm any nerves.

However, the hosts were not quite done and it took some last-ditch defending to deny Clarke in the box in the 73rd minute, highlighting not only how important the win was to Town, but also the clean sheet.

Nicky Ajose wheels away after netting his first of the afternoon past  Coventry goalie Lee Burge

And they were not done there. Two minutes later, Thompson had to be alert on the line to head clear a glancing header from Turnbull.

However, Swindon’s defence could not hold out as Coventry were able to net a late consolation goal when substitute Yakubu squared the ball for Thomas, who, with Ormonde-Ottewill left prone with cramp, was given the space to let fly from the edge of the box to beat Vigouroux.

Town were able to savour the moment in a team huddle in front of the travelling support once Graham Salisbury blew his whistle to bring an end to proceedings but they can’t linger for too long.

With a home game against Gillingham coming up on Tuesday, it is time for Swindon to give the home fans something they have not enjoyed at the County Ground since November 12 – a winning feeling.