Swindon 1 Oxford 2 

Npower League Two

 

RESULT: Swindon Town 1 Oxford United 2

 

Swindon scorer: Ritchie 20

Oxford scorer: Constable (2) 12, 43

  

Paolo Di Canio was sent to the stands as Town suffered their third league defeat in a row and their first at home to their arch-rivals since 1973.

 

All the goals came in the first-half - with both of Oxford's converted by Town transfer target James Constable from set-pieces.

 

The first a header from a corner after slack marking in the Town box, the second - and most decisive just before half-time - after Constable was first to react went Phil Smith parried a deflected free-kick.

 

In between, Matt Ritchie had superbly headed the Robins level after some excellent work from Callum Kennedy.

 

But apart from dominating pocession and some good touches from new winger Lander Gabilondo, Swindon once again lacked a cutting edge.

 

Debutant Leon Clarke also impressed despite toe-poking Swindon's best second-half chance over the bar.

 

"We have let ourselves down defensively," commented a frustrated Di Canio, who was sent-off just minutes into the second-half after remonstrating with the fourth official.

 

"I'm sad for the fans. But not sorry. We played some good football today and, with with some new players coming in, we will get results I'm sure."

 

Town drop to 19th after the loss, their lowest League position since 1985.  

 

The League Two table:

 

1 Crawley Town 4 7 10
2 Rotherham 4 5 10
3 Gillingham 4 5 10
4 Morecambe 4 5 9
5 Dag & Red 4 1 9
6 Port Vale 4 5 8
7 AFC Wimbledon 4 3 7
8 Oxford Utd 4 2 7
9 Bristol Rovers 4 1 7
10 Torquay 4 0 7
11 Burton Albion 4 1 6
12 Cheltenham 4 0 6
13 Southend 4 -2 6
14 Shrewsbury 4 0 5
15 Barnet 4 -1 5
16 Macclesfield 4 1 4
17 Northampton 4 -1 4
18 Accrington St 4 -3 4
19 Swindon Town 4 0 3
20 Aldershot 4 -3 3
21 Bradford 4 -3 1
22 Plymouth 4 -8 1
23 Hereford 4 -8 1
24 Crewe 4 -7 0

Forthcoming games: 

Bristol City (A)
Wednesday 24 August 7:45pm
Carling Cup Round One

Shrewsbury (A)

Saturday, 27 August 2011 3:00pm
Npower League Two