Robins Relegated

Relegation. The "R" word. Some managers ban its use. Others would rather speak its name so that their players are fully aware of the enormity of dropping a division. For a club sliding out of its respective division, it can mean a loss of players, revenue and ultimately a lot of its fanbase. For the fans it brings emotional turmoil: What if we never come back up?

Unfortunately for Swindon, all this and more is now more relevant than even the most pessimistic of fans pre-season could have predicted. In a season that promised so much, they have been relegated from Npower League One with two games still to play.

A 3-1 defeat away at Sheffield Wednesday coupled with Walsall's point at Oldham means Town will play in the Football League's basement division in 2011/12. The results means Swindon now become the 5th third tier play-off final runner up since the inception of the Football League Play-Offs in 1986/87 to be relegated the following season.

As for the match, Town boss Paul Hart made five changes to the side that capitulated at home to Notts County on Saturday, with an immediate return to the team for Andy Frampton following his one-match suspension. Phil Smith replaced the injured David Lucas between the sticks with Simon Ferry also handed a rare start in midfield. On-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Alessane N'Diaye made only his second start, with Jon-Paul Mcgovern dropping to the bench alongside Calvin Andrew, who was replaced by Elliot Benyon in the frontline.

It was a composed, impressive start for Swindon who enjoyed much of the possession inside the first fifteen minutes with Benyon and Matt Ritchie looking bright up front.

However, Town's good early work soon counted for nothing as the home side opened the scoring. A low strike from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Lescinel Jean-Francois and rocketed past Smith into the back of the net.

The home side extended their advantage on 27 minutes with a well-taken header from Neil Mellor. A deep cross from right back Jon Otsemobor saw Mellor get the better of Frampton and loop a head home from 16 yards. Chances came Swindon's way after the goal, with Frampton and Benyon twice denied by superb goalkeeping from Nicky Weaver.

Swindon's afternoon soon went from bad to worse with Frampton going down to a heavy challenge, inuring an ankle, before being replaced by Scott Cuthbert in the heart of Town's backline.

The Robins did have something to cheer about three minutes before the break with a superb first Swindon goal for Jonathon Douglas. The skipper followed up a blocked shot from Ritchie to fire in a right-footed effort into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

Prior to the game, Douglas' inability to score had been highlighted consistently as a weakness in his game. A combative midfielder, he has come agonisingly close in recent weeks to breaking his duck, so must surely be seen as a positive on what was ultimately a bad afternoon for all connected to Swindon Town Football Club.

Despite a strong start to the second half, Town edged close to relegation as defensive hesitancy from Cuthbert and Michael Rose allowed Mellor to the ball past Smith at the second attempt, making it 3-1 just before the hour mark.

The visitors continued to strive for a second goal to give them a glimmer of hope and, despite efforts from Benyon and another long-range punt from Douglas, they couldn't get themselves back in the game.

With relegation confirmed on the final whistle, the season must now be put to bed, allowing the inquest into this year's failures to begin. Preparation for the 2011/12 campaign must begin immediately and, with an expectant support behind them, Swindon Town MUST bounce back.