Cobblers sink to the foot of League One after defensive calamity sees them slip to defeat at Swindon

Cobblers sank to the bottom of League One after a defensive calamity saw them slip to a potentially fatal 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Swindon Town on Saturday.

This was yet another game that Town were very much in and created the better chances - even taken the lead through Ryan Watson's terrific first-half strike - but once again they let the points slip away all through their own making.

Scott Twine's excellent free-kick pulled Swindon level in first-half stoppage-time before a horror show at the back allowed Brett Pitman to score what turned out to be the winning goal 20 minutes from time, with the visitors never able to muster any kind of response.

Cobblers are now at the very foot of the division and whilst they are somehow only two points from safety, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see how they can escape the bottom four and maintain their League One status this season.

Caretaker boss Jon Brady remains without a win from his five matches in charge and it is now 12 without a win in all competitions, dating back over two months.

Brady elected to make just the one change to the side which drew with Rochdale in midweek as Shaun McWilliams dropped to the bench and in came Sam Hoskins.

Hoskins started out wide with Mickel Miller playing through the middle at the County Ground and Town started well, winning three early corners in quick succession.

But all were wasted and Swindon responded with a decent spell as Tom Broadbent headed over at the back post before Jonathan Mitchell got away with a wayward pass when trying to play out from the back.

Town suffered a blow midway through the first-half when Alan Sheehan was forced off with injury and had to be replaced by Fraser Horsfall.

But the visitors were ahead just 90 seconds later and Horsfall played his part. The defender's smart first-time pass found Peter Kioso in a good position before the ball eventually dropped to Watson inside the box and showed quick feet and good composure to pick out the bottom corner.

Swindon struggled to hit back but Twine was the danger man and he came close with a long-range shot which proved to be a sighter for his next effort in first-half stoppage-time.

Lloyd Jones was deemed to have committed a contentious foul just outside the box and Twine curled a fine effort over the wall and into the top corner. Mitchell got finger-tips to it but couldn't push the ball around the post.

It was a killer time for the Cobblers to lose their lead and Swindon had all the momentum at the start of the second-half with Horsfall doing well to clear Jordon Garrick's dangerous cross.

Paul Caddis produced a superb block to deny Hoskins at the other end and a home defender was also quickest on the scene when Archie Matthews spilled Miller's shot with Hoskins waiting to pounce.

The second-half was not filled with many clear chances but Town enjoyed the better moments as Edmondson kneed Marshall's cross straight at the goalkeeper.

The Cobblers looked in very little danger at the back but were masters of their own downfall with 20 minutes to go. Joseph Mills misjudged a long ball, allowing Garrick to latch onto it and cross and with Mitchell way out of position, Pitman nodded into the net.

Swindon went into full game management mode thereafter and just completely took the sting out of it for the final 15 minutes and Town, despite sending on subs, were unable to get up any head of steam in attack.

Six minutes of added time came and went in a flash to leave Town at the foot of League One and requiring a minor miracle to avoid an immediate return to League Two.

Swindon: Matthews, Caddis, Broadbent, Conroy (c), Grounds, Garrick, Payne, Palmer, Thompson (Hope 57), Twine (Missilou 90), Pitman

Subs not used: Iandolo, Curran, Hunt, Omotoye

Cobblers: Mitchell, Kioso, Jones, Sheehan (Horsfall 24), Mills (c), Morris (McWilliams 77), Watson, Hoskins, Miller, Marshall (Rose 74), Edmondson (Chukwuemeka 74)

Subs not used: Arnold, Bolger, Sowerby

Referee: Ben Speedie