Swindon Town players rated after Milton Keynes Dons defeat

Harry Smith headed in after 18 seconds but Kane Thompson-Sommers levelled it in first-half stoppage time before Scott Hogan and Alex Gilbey scored to help the hosts get clear after the break.

So, how did the players fare as individuals at Stadium MK?

(Image: Newsquest)

GK: Jack Bycroft – 7

This was definitely a game where you felt for Bycroft as he just didn’t get the help. He made eight saves and although there could be some blame going his way for the first goal, he made enough excellent stops not to hold it against him. His distribution also looked a lot better. He was stepping out and helping to build up and also hit a few dimes down the field.

RB: Tunmise Sobowale – 6

His rating could have been higher as he did make two tremendous last-ditch tackles on either side of the break. However, especially in the second half, there was more of the part of his game which needs improvement as his decision-making in the final third was consistently frustrating.

CB: Will Wright – 5

Wright put in a steadier display in this game. In the first half, he did a good job of slowing the game down and working Swindon up the pitch. But when you were looking for someone to take control in the box when the game turned, it didn’t arrive.

CB: Ryan Delaney – 6

Delaney was very impressive in the first half as he made his first league start for nine months. He was confident on the ball and winning headers. Then, much like Wright, there was not enough command of the Swindon box when it was needed.

LB: Rosaire Longelo – 3

Another player who has not started a league game for a couple of months and Aaron Nemane gave him a torrid time. His presence made it tough for him to get forward and then he really struggled to cope with him going the other way – as was shown in a big way for the third goal.

CM: Ollie Clarke – 6

The driving runs of Clarke have become a big part of Swindon’s attacking since Ian Holloway came in and they have been very effective. In the first half, he did a great job defensively before MK Dons switched it around and overran Town.

CM: Gavin Kilkenny – 7

Kilkenny was the best player on the pitch in the first half. He was able to slow down and speed up the game and he was crashing into tackles – it was rattling the Buckinghamshire club. They eventually put four players in the middle and made it much tougher but he was excellent.

CM: Danny Butterworth – 4

There was a run in the first half which was astonishing. That is what Butterworth is capable of but he can also go a bit missing and Butterworth did both of those things in his 45 minutes.

ST: Aaron Drinan – 4

Credit to Drinan because he is putting in a big effort for the team in unfamiliar roles but that is not getting the most out of him. Confidence is big for strikers and with his goal drought dragging on, I am not certain Drinan’s is the highest.

ST: Harry Smith – 6

The major positive of recent league games is that Smith has proved himself to be a big threat when he gets the service. Four in four league games speaks for itself. Swindon need to get him in the game more than he was for the majority of this one.

ST: Kabongo Tshimanga – 3

To be clear, he very clearly should have got a penalty at 1-0. I still don’t know how that wasn’t given. However, he repeatedly got the ball in dangerous areas and could never make it stick.

Substitutes:

Joel McGregor – 4

The game really got away from Swindon when McGregor was on the pitch (that was not his fault, to be clear). He largely kept Joe Tomlinson quiet but it was not the kind of impact we are used to him making.

Sean McGurk – 4

McGurk never really got into the game. Swindon got ragged and he took up some good positions which just didn’t result in anything.

Paul Glatzel – 6

For the first five or ten minutes he was on the field, Glatzel was a bit untidy but he played his way into it. He was the player most likely to make a game of it as he made good runs and linked up well.

Nnamdi Ofoborh – N/A

Joel Cotterill – N/A