Swindon Town 2 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Match analysis

From the goal that wasn't against Wycombe in 2011 to the penalty that wasn't at Swindon in 2012.

For the second successive season, Shrewsbury Town will carry a burning sense of injustice through the final stages of a promotion quest.

And Town will now desperately be hoping the agonising heartbreak of last season's one-point near miss on the top three after Wycombe's phantom goal will not be repeated in a little over two months' time.

• See more pictures from Town's loss to Swindon

This was one of – if not the – most complete League away performances of the season from Graham Turner's side.

And yet they will spend the coming days pondering just what the long-lasting consequences on their automatic promotion ambitions will be on a night when they produced maximum output for such little return.

Undoubtedly their thoughts will shift immediately to the 52nd minute incident which left the usually level-headed Graham Turner incandescent with rage long beyond the final whistle.

Even the most ardent Swindon fan would concede they were fortunate to escape when Terry Gornell was upended in the box by Alan McCormack after the striker had manoeuvred himself in behind the Swindon defence and was bearing down on goal.

The contact on Gornell as he chased a through ball into the box was blatant, the repercussions of a red card and penalty seemingly as obvious.

But referee Brendan Malone and his team of officials somehow failed to bow to the inevitable and waved play on.

Shrewsbury were justifiably livid and it took just 22 minutes for fears that the incident would prove to be the game-defining moment to be realised.

After failing to so much as trouble Chris Neal's goal in the opening hour, previously ineffective Swindon gathered momentum on the back of their slice of fortune with two goals in a 12-minute burst from substitute Alan Connell altering the entire complexion of the evening.

Neal will be forced to take his share of responsibility for the 62nd minute leveller when a 20-yard shot – admittedly one which swerved and bounced awkwardly immediately in front of him – from Matt Ritchie escaped his clutches to allow Connell the simplest of tap-ins.

And just a dozen minutes later, Connell – who worked under Turner at Hereford – again found himself in the right place at the right time to bundle home from similarly close range after Luke Rooney's curling edge-of-the-box effort had struck the woodwork.

For the noisy travelling supporters, it was simply gut-wrenching.

And yet, as the dust eventually settles on a night high on controversy, Shrewsbury should seek ample comfort from a performance which suggested that – even with this costly setback to digest – Town will remain contenders for a top three finish.

For much of the night, the visitors were disciplined defensively and inventive in opposition territory where they attacked with such numbers and purpose.

The lead given to them by a 40th minute Matt Richards header from a Mark Wright corner - the first goal Swindon had conceded at home in the League in 670 minutes dating back to October 8 – was no more than they deserved.

And even away from the penalty blunder from Malone, Shrewsbury may have put this game beyond doubt.

If the first half saw Joe Jacobson, James Collins and Mark Wright go close with long range efforts, the start of the second period provided even clearer chances.

Wright was denied by the foot of Swindon goalkeeper Wes Foderingham from 12 yards and while Collins didn't make a great connection with an effort from similar distance, it forced a clearance off the line from McCormack just five minutes after the defender feared he was heading for an early bath.

Shrewsbury regained the initiative for the closing 15 minutes and may have salvaged a deserved point with Collins and David McAllister both having half opportunities.

But it was Paolo Di Canio and Swindon who were left to celebrate as Shrewsbury and Turner attempted to control their anger.

What ever sense of grievance they carry will be understandable. But it must be channelled in the right direction for the closing 15 games of the season.

James Garrison

See also:

• Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner slams reffing farce

• Paolo Di Canio: Swindon Town were lucky