FILIPE Morais’ deflected effort consigned Swindon Town to a 1-0 home defeat to Crawley Town on Saturday and saw their wretched record against the Red Devils continue into a ninth game.

The last time Swindon beat Crawley was back in 2012 when Matt Ritchie, Tommy Miller and Rafa De Vita goals helped Paolo Di Canio’s men to a 3-0 success, but since then have gone nine games without victory against the Sussex side.

As a result of the defeat, Swindon dropped to 12th in the League Two table, having missed a golden opportunity to make up ground on the play-off chasers – only one team between 11th and Miltom Keyens Dons in sixth picked up any points at the weekend.

Richie Wellens’ side find themselves seven points off the play-offs with 16 games to play, although with four of the bottom six still to visit the Energy Check County Ground, there is still hope of an unlikely late charge into the top seven.

But if that is to happen, Wellens will have to find a way to beat struggling teams at home.

Since the start of the season, Swindon have consistently failed to win games at home against what could be considered as ‘weaker opposition’.

The biggest problem for Wellens’ men seems to be that they are unable to find a way past teams that are happy to stay compact and settle for hitting Swindon on the counter-attack.

Unless the inconsistencies that have blighted Town’s campaign so far disappear quickly, Wellens will be preparing for another long season in the bottom tier of the Football League.

Saturday became another example of Swindon’s up-and-down performances under Wellens.

Despite starting brightly – without creating too much in the way of chances – Swindon still found themselves heading into the break behind.

After a couple of late corners in first-half stoppage time, Morais peeled away from his marker and a double deflection off the centre-back pairing of Tom Broadbent and Luke Woolfenden helped his powerful volley squirm over the line.

It was indicative of Swindon’s luck of late. Another unfortunate bounce led to an undeserving lead for Gabriele Cioffi’s Crawley.

Swindon would have taken some comfort from the fact that they had been in a similar position against Lincoln City two weeks before – fighting back from two goals down to take a point on that occassion.

But this time the comeback did not appear, despite Swindon being awarded a stoppage-time penalty after a foul on Canice Carroll.

Keshi Anderson stepped up from 12 yards, but visiting goalkeeper Glenn Morris stretched to his right to deny Swindon a share of the spoils.

Wellens named an unchanged side to the one that took all three points away from Prenton Park last Saturday against Tranmere Rovers.

Broadbent was handed a home debut in the heart of defence, while Ali Koiki was given his first start at the County Ground.

The home side started brightly and began knocking the ball about with a confidence that has rarely been seen in recent months. Michael Doughty had an early free-kick blocked, but chances were at a premium in the opening 20 minutes.

Swindon’s next chance would also come from a free-kick, although Jak McCourt’s effort was far closer to putting the home side ahead – a fierce drive striking the base of Morris’ left-hand post.

A minute later, the visitors could have gone ahead themselves. A poor touch inside his own half from Broadbent gave Morais the opportunity to run at the Swindon defence.

Luckily for the ex-Bristol Rovers man, Woolfenden was on hand to smother the danger.

With the vast majority of the ball, yet very few chances to show for it, the Swindon faithful were beginning to grow restless until a ranging Lawrence Vigouroux clearance found Kaiyne Woolery on the right.

The forward’s cross almost found Marc Richards in the middle, but for an excellent covering tackle from a visiting defender.

Two Crawley men entered the book prior to half-time – David Sesay and Panutche Camara the offenders – before Swindon found themselves in a very similar position to the previous home match against Lincoln.

Despite having the majority of the first-half play, a failed clearance from a corner saw the ball fall to Morais, who smashed a shot on target, and it squirmed its way over the line to put Crawley ahead at the break.

The frustration from the first-half could not be tempered by the Swindon fans early in the second either as Crawley came out still inspired by their first-half smash and grab.

Morais had a powerful drive blocked following a couple of early corners for the visitors.

Crawley’s main man was causing havoc for the Swindon back-line and after a wayward pass from Carroll, Morais sliced a shot well wide.

It was midway through the second half until Swindon had a clear sight of Morris’ goal – Woolery bundled his way through and if not for another brilliant last-stitch tackle from the visiting defence, Swindon would have been level.

Wellens’ men continued to pile on the pressure late on – substitute Ben House was left alone at a corner and with time to compose himself before shooting, but saw his weak effort blocked.

Minutes later, following neat work on the touchline by House, Scott Twine was released inside the box but could not find enough curl on his effort to see it nestle in the corner.

With added time having just been shown, Swindon were awarded a penalty after Carroll played a neat one-two with House before being felled inside the box.

Unfortunately for Wellens’ men, Anderson was denied by a fine save down to his right by Morris and Swindon drew a blank once again at home.

Saturday’s misfire in front of goal was the 10th time that Swindon have failed to score at home in all competitions this season and goes some way to explaining why they have one of the bottom-five worst home records in the league.