By Editor
March 1 2003

Rangers squandered the lead and a chance to boost their play-offs hopes, as Swindon came from behind to win at the County Ground. Dan Shittu put Rangers ahead after 16 minutes. But Swindon hit back with goals from Steve Robinson, Sam Parkin and Matthew Heywood.

After Shittu headed home Gino Padula's right-wing corner, Swindon were back on level terms within two minutes.

Rangers had a let-off moments after the opening goal, when Stefan Miglioranzi dragged a shot wide of the target.

And there was no reprieve when Robinson capitalised on hestitation in the Rs defence to poke the ball past Nick Culkin and into the net from eight yards out.

The equaliser prompted Ian Holloway, who started with Clarke Carlisle at right-back, to make a change. He switched to three in defence, with Padula and Marcus Bean becoming wing-backs.

Rangers still looked less than assured but the change did stem the tide for a time and Holloway's side came close to going back in front on no less than five occasions before the break.

Richard Langley sent two long-range free-kicks just over and following the midfielder's 27th-minute corner, Shittu twice came close to scoring again.

His header from Langley's delivery was cleared off the line by Jon Beswetherick and after Swindon failed to clear their lines the ball again fell to Shittu, whose shot was tipped onto the bar by goalkeeper Bart Griemik.

And three minutes before half-time, Griemik raced from his line to save at the feet of Paul Furlong, who should have done better having found himself through on goal.

Parkin had much more to do after 63 minutes, when Steve Palmer's poor clearance fell to him. But the striker calmly took the ball past both Palmer and Carlisle before beating Culkin with a side-footed finish.

Worse followed four minutes later. In a similar goal to Shittu's, Heywood headed in Beswetherick's corner to put Swindon further ahead.

Holloway responded with a double substitution, bringing fit-again duo Tommy Williams and Richard Pacquette on for Padula and Lee Cook.

Within a minute Williams made an impact, serving up a low cross from the left that Pacquette and Gallen were unable to connect with.

But Rangers faded after that near miss. Bean's late goal-line clearance to deny Parkin his second of the match, and Culkin's save from Eric Sabin prevented Swindon from winning by an even bigger margin.

And in stoppage time, Gallen was denied a consolation goal when his effort was cleared off the line by Alan Reeves.

Rangers: Culkin, Carlisle, Shittu, Palmer, Padula (Williams 71), Bean, Langley, Bircham, Cook (Pacquette 71), Gallen, Furlong (Angell 82).
Subs not used: Burgess, Day.

Attendance: 7,716