Town accelerate into top Greer

24 hours previously I'd hinted that as long as we can keep Lambert quiet, we've got every chance of taking the 3 points on Tuesday night. 24 hours later I find myself stood in the Merlin, pint of amber nectar in hand, buoyantly conversing the subject matter at hand; how for 90 minutes Gordon Greer had not only silenced the 27 year old front man, but we had completely outplayed Saints. Save for some goalkeeping heroics from Kelvin Davis, the game could have finished with a much more convincing score line to match the performance.

As a Swindon fan, you know exactly the feelings and emotions Southampton followers will have been through recently, but despite all this the Saints faithful packed into their allocation pushing the County Ground attendance to a healthy 11,673 and making sure the atmosphere would be electric. But if this was the Saints marching in, the Reds came steaming in!

The match saw a lively start, pre-season fatigue appeared non-existent and both sets of players seemed up for it but it was Swindon who grabbed the bull by its horns. The Robins' attacking game seemed fluent and snappy. Anthony McNamee got some menacing early crosses away and the home fans were given a clear indication of how The Reds wanted to play this game. On 9 minutes first blood was drawn. Jon-Paul McGovern's right boot delivered a sublime corner to pick out an unmarked teenage giant in Sean Morrison. The defender made no mistake, driving his header into the top corner of Davis' goal. As the home stands erupted in jubilation the noisy Saints fans were finally out sung, albeit for a short time.

Town were completely on top and trying to force the issue, whipping in crosses left, right and centre. Jean-Francois Lescinel steered a header just wide with 21 minutes on the clock after yet another teasing cross from Anthony McNamee. The Swindon faithful erupted soon after as everybody but the match officials saw Wayne Thomas lead with an arm catching Billy Paynter in an aerial challenge. A few words of disagreement were shared by the home fans.

4 minutes later the scores should have been equal as Saints’ best chance of the game was gifted to them on a plate. Goal scoring hero Sean Morrison nearly became the villain after his extremely weak pass back to Lucas was intercepted by Rickie Lambert. However, his audacious lob attempt over the oncoming Lucas was easily gathered by the goalkeeper, much to the jeers of the Swindon fans.

Southampton were determined not to give the Robins an easy flight. On 36 minutes they received their second corner of the match. The out swinging delivery was headed back into the fray by Lambert, but Wayne Thomas couldn’t keep his header down under pressure from Billy Paynter and Kevin Amankwaah and Town held on to their lead.

I was off my seat again 3 minutes on (and nearly fell onto the row in front, too many ciders) as Swindon very nearly doubled their lead on 39 minutes. Anthony McNamee found himself in a crossing position following a nice bit of trickery. He delivered the cross from the left to meet the head of striker Billy Paynter on the edge of the 6-yard box. Paynter was expertly denied his first league goal by Kelvin Davis' outstretched leg who couldn't have known anything about it except for using those goalkeeping instincts we see from the crazy breed. From where I was sat it was in, only the last component that makes a goal never came - the bulge of the net.

Southampton then had a half chance as the 4th Official's bored indicated 1 minute extra was to be played. Greer was reprimanded for a foul on Lloyd James. A quick free kick earned the Saints a corner as Jonathan Douglas deflected a useful looking ball behind. Swindon's defence looked uncertain for the first time as they yearned for an individual to take control and make a clearance. The ball finally dropped to Jacob Mellis whose shot was sliced wide of Lucas' goal. The first half was brought to a close and the Swindon players left the pitch to a standing ovation after witnessing an impressive half against ex-championship Southampton.

As darkness fell around the County Ground the Swindon fans had found their voice. Though still being out sung by the travelling Saints, they helped push for a second goal. The 2nd half saw much of the same as Wilson's men forced chance after chance and were kept out by the expertise of Kelvin Davis or his scrambling backline. A hashed Southampton clearance gifted a shot from the right hand side for JP McGovern who forced a diving save from Davis as he managed to deflect the ball clear. Town looked increasingly dangerous from corners; Billy Paynter had another good header saved by Davis, and a shot he probably knew nothing about was deflected over following Jonathan Douglas' volley across goal. Kevin Amankwaah then picked up the ball well after a challenge on the halfway. As he stretched his long legs and charged forward, he found Anthony McNamee on his right. McNamee chose to curl his shot round Davis but picked the wrong choice as Davis easily gathered the ball when power over placement might have been the better option.

Sean Morrison picked up a knock to his head. He opted to play on and had a bandage applied giving the players a rest bite on the field. During which, a beautiful rendition of "Danny Wilson's Red and White Army" echoed alternatively from the Town End and Don Rogers Stand. However, the break appeared to sap some of the momentum Swindon had built and they found themselves on the back foot of a rare Southampton attack. Lucas had to stretch to deny a shot from Morgan Schneiderlin and he did well to palm away a 30 yard free kick from Rickie Lambert.

The Southampton Supporters were chanting Saganowski's name and Pardew heeded their words bringing him on in the 81st minute, but not having a massive effect on the game. Rickie Lambert fired a 25 yard free kick over the bar - cue more jeering for the ex-Bristol Rovers striker. As time slipped away for the Saints, some time-wasting tactics, rightly or wrongly, were employed by Swindon. Lescinel Jean-Francois picked up a yellow card for a hint of lethargy to take a throw in after the 4th Official had indicated 5 mins of added time. Shortly after, Anthony McNamee left the field from the opposite end of the pitch, basking in ovation from the home fans and was replaced by teenager Lloyd Macklin. Then, loanee Tope Obadeyi received the same treatment as he made way for another product of the youth setup; Callum Kennedy - much to the annoyance of Pardew, his players and supporters. Macklin used his pace to hound and torment the rocky Southampton backline aiding in the run-down of the clock as the nervous last few minutes set in.

But Wilson's men had done enough and the final whistle indicated the first league win of the season to cap a brilliant performance. I learned later that night that 7 minutes added time had actually been played tonight making our 2nd clean sheet of the season that much sweeter as Swindon appear to have fully put last season's woes behind them. Perhaps the foundations have been laid to make the County Ground a fortress this season.