Same Old Swindon Slip To Dagenham Defeat

A lack of serious firepower up front. Struggling against the infamous physicality of the lower leagues. And the seemingly impossible task to get back into the game once going behind. All these are remnants of Swindon's fall from grace last season and their eventual relegation and yet, three games into the new season, it seems similar problems are hampering the club's progression on the field.

Following a demoralising 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, Paolo Di Canio's men travelled to London to face a Dagenham and Redbridge side in the midst of a mini injury crisis. With nine first team players currently in the treatment room, Dagenham were forced to include fringe players Richard Rose, Danny J Green and Alex Osborn in the first team squad.

But whilst the Daggers had to contend with a lengthy injury list, Swindon themselves faced their own problems - including a failure to deal with the long ball tactics deployed by the hosts - as they slipped to a second successive defeat on the road.

In response to the Cheltenham defeat, Di Canio made two changes to his starting line-up, drafting in Alberto Comazzi to replace Joe Devera whilst Etienne Esajas took Nathan Thompson's place on the right side of midfielder. Elsewhere within the team, Alan McCormack retained his place in the centre of midfield Di Canio's persistence in using Billy Bodin and Raffaele De Vita up front the only criticism uttered by Town fans pre-kick-off.

Much like the Crewe game, Swindon were slow out of the blocks with the hosts spurning a number of early first half chances. After a scrappy start to the clash, a long hopeful, Dagenham ball found its way through to Brian Woodall but the striker, making his full debut for the club, scuffed his effort weakly into the arms of Phil Smith. The hosts continued to enjoy the best of the opening quarter of an hour, though Woodall's effort remained the only clear cut chance they could muster.

The chance sparked the visitors into life, with Matt Ritchie and Esajas particularly lively down either wing. The latter went close on two occasions with deflected efforts, only to be denied by home 'keeper Chris Lewington, pushing both shots clear of any danger.

Just as the visitors looked to be finding their feet in the clash, they were disrupted as debutant Alberto Comazzi limped off injured, and with Town's only other recognised centre back Devera having missed out on a place on the bench, full back Paul Caddis was forced to slot into the centre of defence.

However, Dagenham failed to capitalise as Swindon failed to reshuffle efficiently, and it was Di Canio's side who went closest to breaking the deadlock as the first half drifted towards its conclusion. Firstly, De Vita saw his 20-yard shot tipped wide by the impressive Lewington after another good break from Esajas, before Oliver Risser nodded wide from eight yeards when he might have done better.

The game settled into a pattern with neither side able to create any clear-cut chances - Daggers frontman Woodall's failure to hit the target again an indication of this - before Mark Arber's slip allowed De Vita to latch onto a Risser pass only to be brought down in the box by Scott Doe. Much to the frustrations of Di Canio, however, referee Carl Berry waved away the penalty appeals instead allowing play to continue as the half came to an end.

The hosts began the second period well, and were inches away from being ahead just five minutes into it as Jon Nurse crossed to a busy Woodall, who poked his shot narroly wide under pressure from Nathan Thompson.

Di Canio introduced Alan Connell in place of Bodin soon after, and the striker gave the visitors a much-needed injection of energy and purpose, creating chances for McCormack and Aden Flint - both of whom sliced 18-yard volleys wide after knock-downs from the frontman. With Ritchie and Esajas increasingly busy on both flanks, Town seemingly wrestled control of the match, fashioning two more De Vita chances, though Lewington was again equal to anything the Swindon striker had to offer.

However, just as Swindon looked set to take the initiative, it was ripped away from them as Gavin Tomlin went down under a challenge from Caddis in the Town box, with referee Berry this time pointing to the spot. To the delight of the home faithful, Daggers skipper Arber made no mistake from the spot to put the hosts one up with twenty minutes remaining, and leave Di Canio's side with a tough ask to muscle their way back into the game.

Inevitably boosted by their advantage, the opening goal gave the Daggers the impetus and, following a neat passage of play down the right involving Nurse, Tomlin and Oliver Lee, might have done better from the resulting corner. After racing to the near post to meet Tomlin's set piece, Doe's header flashed just wide of the target - a warning that Swindon's eagerness to get an equaliser was leaving space at the back.

With seven minutes remaining, Town rediscovered some of their early second half form, going close to qualising as both Ritchie and Connell failed to properly connect to a deep Esajas cross, though it was eventually scrambled away by a resilient Dagenham defence. Swindon continued to press as the hosts' defending became increasingly desperate but that elusive cleat-cut chance and equaliser was not forthcoming, and they went down to their second 1-0 defeat in as many matches.

Whilst three points from the opening three games - including town away fixtures - is hardly catastrophic, the performances on the pitch have generally been poor and results have certainly been underwhelming and disheartening. Di Canio's persistence in overlooking his more experienced players has rightly earned him some criticism but how long will it be until the jeers that greeted the final whistle at Cheltenham and Dagenham turn into calls for the Italian's head?