Swindon Town players rated after Tranmere Rovers victory

Sean McGurk’s second professional goal got the game started, before Rob Apter levelled the scores, but Rushian Hepburn-Murphy twice broke in behind and finished to win the three points.

So, how did the players fare as individuals in the Clash for 17th?

GK: Jack Bycroft – 6

Tranmere did not create an awful lot in this game, but when they did, aside from one inch-perfect shot from Apter, Bycroft was on hand to stop them. Swindon were looking to play a bit more methodically in this one and he facilitated that with his considered distribution.

Godwin-Malife drives with the ball (Image: Andy Crook)

RB: Harrison Minturn – 6

Josh Hawkes never really became a factor in this game, so Minturn was allowed to become a marauding full-back. How he didn’t get an assist for Ricky Aguiar or Charlie Austin will remain a mystery. It was a surprise to see him removed at halftime, but Gavin Gunning is not one to stand on ceremony with his substitutions.

CB: Conor McCarthy – 7

Luke Norris’ transformation from the flimsy player he was at Swindon into one of League Two’s most robust target men always amuses me. He was a real handful when Tranmere launched the ball forward, but overall McCarthy marshalled him so he struggled to do much beyond his first contact.

CB: Frazer Blake-Tracy – 6

Once again Swindon were rather solid at the back and made a not very good Tranmere team look like it. Blake-Tracy’s normal use is being the defender that deals with people in behind and they didn’t try that an awful lot, so McCarthy just edges him out on this occasion.

LB: Udoka Godwin-Malife – 8

The task of dealing with Apter was a tough one as he was all Rovers had and other than one snapshot, Godwin-Malife did a good job. Then on the ball, he was magnificent. His assist for Hepburn-Murphy’s first goal was perfection and he kept feeding the hot hand after that.

CM: Dawson Devoy – 7

Playing in a strange role is difficult, as Devoy’s partner showed, but he adapted very well to being a more disciplined midfielder. He circulated the ball well and was always dropping into the right areas to keep structure to the team when his instincts would have been telling him differently.

Aguiar on the ball (Image: Andy Crook)

CM: Ricky Aguiar – 4

It was pretty clear that being part of a double pivot is not really Aguiar’s bag. He gave it his best but when Tranmere made things physical, he did struggle. The way he moves and his ability on the ball show me there is a player there, just not in this position.

RW: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – 9

He badly needed this. This will have been a tough season for Hepburn-Murphy after coming into it in hot form, but injuries have hampered him. In this game, Tranmere gave him the space he needed, and he exploited it ruthlessly. His two finishes were very cool and hopefully, this can be a platform to build on.

CAM: Paul Glatzel – 7

This was a different kind of performance from Glatzel as instead of being the target of the ball in behind, he was creating those openings. He knitted play together very well and has a strong understanding with McGurk which makes me very excited for next season.

LW: Sean McGurk – 8

Give him a new contract now. Jamie Russell has found a special player in McGurk, he is so graceful with how he plays and some of the stuff he does is mind bottling. The contract he signed with Leeds United expires this summer and even if they still have another year option, I would not be wasting any time in tying him down for as long as you can. He has shown you all you need to see.

McGurk faces up to a defender (Image: Andy Crook)

ST: Charlie Austin – 4

I think after playing 90 minutes at Stockport County, this was a game too far. He looked leggy pretty quickly and was unable to make much of an impact. He never really got on the same page as the other attackers.

Subs:

Williams Kokolo – 5

He provided his customary speed after coming on and even as a full-back you expect him to score after McGurk set him up. Apter caused him a few troubles before he came off, but it was a comfortable time for him overall.

Aaron Drinan – 6

A bit like Hepburn-Murphy I think he could do with a goal, but I like Drinan as a player. He is physical and has worked pretty selflessly for the team in strange positions a few times when he has come on.

Tom Brewitt – 5

This raft of substitutions was a signal that the game was over, and it has been quite some time since Swindon have been able to think that this early. Brewitt came on and contributed nicely to the stroll to the finish line.

Jake Cain – 5

Much like Brewitt, his time on the field was characterised by the ease of it. He did his job but there was not much more that was needed.

Zac Elbouzedi – 4

Elbouzedi is starting to veer towards being an issue. Unlike the others, he was given some chances to get involved after coming on and he was either turning them down or running down a cul-de-sac. This is a few games in a row when he has failed to offer much of anything.