Joel Cotterill, Paul Glatzel and Kabongo Tshimanga of Swindon Town celebrateImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
Image caption,

Swindon scorers Joel Cotterill, Paul Glatzel and Kabongo Tshimanga celebrate

Swindon Town turned the form book on its head to humble visiting Newport County and claim their first win of the season.

A weakened Exiles side, missing injured defenders Shane McLoughlin, James Clarke, and Joe Thomas plus suspended centre-backs Ciaran Brennan and Kyle Jameson, were 3-0 down within 21 minutes.

Kabongo Tshimanga struck first after Newport failed to clear a free-kick, before Paul Glatzel headed in George Cox's cross from close range after a swift counter-attack.

Glatzel was again left free to connect with Will Wright's header back across goal for Swindon's third, although Newport's Matt Baker was judged to have got the final touch into the net.

A fourth Robins goal on the stroke of half-time, with Joel Cotterill scoring from a rebound after Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend had denied Glatzel, ended a calamitous opening period for the visitors.

That the thumping did not sink into a complete embarrassment in the second half owed much to the reflexes of Townsend, who stood firm behind his makeshift defence and made a superb save to deny Glatzel.

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Head coach Mark Kennedy and George Cox speak to BBC Radio Wiltshire after Swindon's first win of the season

Newport County manager Nelson Jardim said:

"It was a very tough afternoon, I think... we were just off the pace and we just conceded goals, four goals, that put us on the back foot all the game.

"A first win for them and obviously I didn't pick the best XI, shape-wise we had to change and I think when we've changed we've improved and we've started competing.

"We gave away the ball, the first goal was poor and with that goal we lost a bit of control after that.

"There were too many (enforced) changes; I know that, I get that, but that's what the squad is there for - we've got options - and that is not an excuse to not compete in the way we should be."

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