SWINDON Town assistant head coach Ed Brand admitted his relief after the Robins finally ended their lengthy winless run in League Two against Bradford City on Tuesday night.
Jonny Williams’ 10th goal of the season – from Remeao Hutton’s 10th assist this term – in the 82nd minute helped the Robins avoid a 10th match without taking three points.
Jody Morris’ men were good value for their victory as well, with a couple of excellent saves from Harry Lewis denying Saidou Khan and Luke Jephcott, respectively.
REPORT: Williams nets late winner to help Swindon taste rare success.
But it was Williams who found a way past the Bantams’ stopper late on to help Town record a first success since February 25.
Asked if it was a relief to finally break the long winless streak, Brand said: “If we’re being honest, of course.
“It’s been a difficult run, but we’re just pleased for the lads because we see the work they put in day in, day out.
“And we do feel that we’ve been hard done by in terms of the amount of points that we’ve gathered since we’ve come through the door, and especially during this run.
“So to get three points is a great feeling – it’s why we do what we do. But to get three points against a very good Bradford side – because let’s not get away from that, they’re a very good team – with a strong performance to boot makes for a nice evening, definitely.”
Town’s long-awaited victory was – in no small part – down to the efforts of the home side’s back line.
League Two’s top scorer, Andy Cook was limited to just one big chance, while the rest of Mark Hughes’ men managed only three shots on target from 17 in total.
But from a Swindon point of view, Brand was delighted that his players managed to chisel out a second clean sheet in succession.
He said: “Two clean sheets in a row is good. It’s an old cliché in football, but if you’re not conceding goals, you’re not going to be losing games.
“And we had to do it two different ways. Against Barrow on Saturday, bar one set-piece where [Tom Clayton] clears off the line, I felt we nullified any threat and we were quite comfortable.
“But tonight, there were moments – sometimes down to our own doing – for them, but the lads showed a desire and willingness to defend one on one, block, and put their bodies on the line.
“That’s what you’ve got to do, and that’s as pleasing as some of the things we want to do on the ball.”
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