Swindon Town's winless run stretched to four matches with a 2-0 defeat to Newport County in the EFL Trophy group stage on Tuesday night. Early and late goals from the visitors at the County Ground left Ian Holloway's side with familiar frustrations.
Gerard Garner put Newport ahead after just four minutes, finishing an assist from Tanatswa Nyakuhwa. Garner had a chance to double the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute but missed his effort. Swindon, who had 60 percent of possession, struggled to create clear chances, managing only one shot on target from their 12 attempts.
Nyakuhwa sealed the win for the Exiles ten minutes from time, converting a pass from Yahya Bamba. Swindon made five substitutions in an attempt to change the game, with Dan Butler and James Debayo both receiving yellow cards in the second half.
The loss continues a difficult period for the Robins, who sit 13th in the League Two table with 10 points from seven games. Their recent form shows one win and four losses from their last five outings, including league defeats to Salford City and York.
Manager Ian Holloway will need to address defensive issues quickly, with his team having conceded 11 goals in the league season so far. The immediate focus shifts to a key League Two fixture at home to Accrington Stanley this Saturday. Accrington currently occupy 21st place, making it a significant opportunity for Swindon to halt their slide. The full schedule is on our fixtures page.
