Swindon Town 0 - Brighton 2

2:42pm Sunday 28th December 2008

By Gareth Moorhouse

A BRACE from Brighton skipper Nicky Forster condemned Town to defeat in Danny Wilson's first game in charge.

Forster scored either side of the interval to sink a Swindon side that lacked any real cutting edge in the final third of the pitch.

Michael Timlin's first-half free-kick that struck a post was the closest Town came, while Brighton were clinical with the few chances that came their way.

Here are the key moments from today's game:

5 mins: JP McGovern cuts in from the left and tries to thread a slide-rule pass into the feet of Simon Cox, but the ball runs through to Brighton goalkeeper John Sullivan.

7 mins: Stuart Fleetwood escapes the clutches of Pat Kanyuka and rolls a ball into the path of Adam Virgo, who brings a fine save out of Peter Brezovan at his near post.

9 mins: Michael Timlin's cross is headed goalwards by Lee Peacock, but the ball is deflected behind for a corner to Town.

16 mins: Craig Easton is fouled by Kevin McLeod, and from the resulting free-kick Timlin strikes the outside of the post.

17 mins: McGovern's wicked cross from the left is headed behind under pressure by Brighton defender Adam Hinshelwood. Swindon are starting to take control.

26 mins: Cox miscontrols the ball but recovers, skips past two Brighton challenges before firing high into the Town End behind Sullivan's goal.

30 mins: McGovern catches Andy Whing in possession but his centre is just too high for the advancing Cox.

37 mins: A scare for Town. McLeod's cross was only half cleared by Brezovan, and when the ball eventually broke for McLeod again the winger shot high and wide with his weaker right foot.

43 mins: GOAL (0-1). Brighton stun Town on the break. Matt Richards feeds Fleetwood, who touches the ball on for skipper Nicky Forster to fire home.

HALF TIME

51 mins: GOAL (0-2). Brezovan fails to collect a long punt forward by his opposite number Sullivan, and in the confusion Timlin fouls Fleetwod in the box. Forster calmly slots home the penalty to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.

53 mins: Danny Wilson makes his first changes as Swindon manager, replacing Blair Sturrock and Lilian Nalis with Barry Corr and Anthony McNamee.

55 mins: The two subs combine, Corr flicking the ball on for McNamee, whose left wing cross is deflected behind for a corner.

64 mins: Cox brings McGovern into play with a lovely flick, but the cross is poor. The ball eventually breaks to Peacock on the edge of the box, but he drags a left-foot shot well wide.

70 mims: A looping high ball breaks kindly for McLeod on the Brighton left, but he fails to trouble Brezovan with a tame half-volley.

72 mins: YELLOW CARD (Virgo). The Brighton midfielder becomes the first player to enter Oliver Langford's book with a late lunge on Barry Corr.

73 mins: McGovern's left-foot drive from 25 yards loops just over the Brighton bar.

75 mins: Virgo is replaced by Glenn Murray. The substitute almost scores with his first touch, arriving late before shooting into the side netting.

77 mins: YELLOW CARD (Fraser). A second booking in quick succession for Brighton as Tom Fraser is penalised for a foul on Craig Easton.

87 mins: McLeod turns Ifil before firing well over the bar. The winger is then replaced by Kerry Mayo for the final few minutes.

FULL TIME

TEAMS:
Swindon Town (4-4-2): Peter Brezovan, Jack Smith, Pat Kanyuka, Jerel Ifil, Michael Timlin (c), Craig Easton, Lee Peacock, Lilian Nalis (Anthony McNamee 53), Jon-Paul McGovern, Simon Cox, Blair Sturrock (Barry Corr 53).
Subs not used: Kevin Amankwaah, Michael Pook, Sean Morrison.

Brighton (4-4-2):
John Sullivan, Andy Whing, Adam Hinshelwood, Tommy Elphick, Matt Richards, Tom Fraser, Adam Virgo (Glenn Murray 72), Bradley Johnson, Kevin McLeod (Kerry Mayo 87), Stuart Fleetwood, Nicky Forster (c).
Subs not used: Paul Crichton, Kevin Thornton, Doug Loft.

Log onto the Swindon Advertiser website at half-time and full time for all the key moments from today's game.

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