Swindon Town 2 Millwall 1 

Coca-Cola League One

 

RESULT: Swindon Town 2 Millwall 1

 

Swindon scorers: S Cox 31 (pen), A McNamee 51

Millwall scorer: D Senda 6

 

Ending on a high note: Simon Cox celebrates his  16th goal of the campaign

Town finished the season on a high with a narrow 2-1 victory over Millwall – thanks to goals from top scorer Simon Cox and the tricky Anthony McNamee.

With both regular right-backs confined to the sidelines, the versatile Jon-Paul McGovern switched to a more defensive position.

The other notable change was the return of Chris Allen to the centre of midfield alongside Michael Timlin.

Unfortunately for the vocal home crowd the game got off to the worst possible start when Millwall took the lead in the sixth minute.

Having conceded a needless free-kick on the edge of the area, the defence was non-existent as Danny Senda easily headed past Peter Brezovan at the far post.

Town had to wait until the half-hour mark to get back on level terms with the visitors when they were awarded a soft penalty.

Michael Timlin went over in the box under a challenge from Paul Robinson, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Top scorer Simon Cox was on hand to comfortably slot home from twelve yards for his 16th goal of the campaign.

Millwall's cause wasn't helped just before half-time when they lost Danny Senda with a suspected dislocated knee.

Town came out in the second-half with a renewed vigour and got their reward when Anthony McNamee fired them ahead on 51 minutes - the diminutive winger's 20 yard shot took a wicked deflection past former Town keeper Rhys Evans.

However, the Millwall keeper was on hand to make the save of the afternoon on the hour mark when he brilliantly denied Billy Paynter.

Town were forced to hang on in the last 5 minutes as the visitors threw everything they had at Swindon's fragile looking defence, but it was to no avail as they were unable to find an equaliser.

Maurice Malpas will no doubt be delighted to have finished the season on a high note with three wins in their last four games.

With all eyes on next season the Town boss will know that he has a big summer ahead of him, both on and off the pitch, as he looks to start the next campaign in a positive manner.

 

League One Table:

 

1 Swansea 46 40 92
2 Nottm Forest 46 32 82
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3 Doncaster 46 24 80
4 Carlisle 46 18 80
5 Leeds 46 34 76
6 Southend 46 15 76
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7 Brighton 46 8 69
8 Oldham 46 12 67
9 Northampton 46 5 66
10 Huddersfield 46 -12 66
11 Tranmere 46 5 65
12 Walsall 46 6 64
13 Swindon 46 7 61
14 Leyton Orient 46 -14 60
15 Hartlepool 46 -3 54
16 Bristol Rovers 46 -8 53
17 Millwall 46 -15 52
18 Yeovil 46 -21 52
19 Cheltenham 46 -22 51
20 Crewe 46 -18 50
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21 Bournemouth 46 -10 48
22 Gillingham 46 -29 46
23 Port Vale 46 -34 38
24 Luton 46 -20 33