Ritchie: On the scoresheet for Swindon
The Wiltshire Robins deposed the Shrimpers from second place in npower League Two on goal difference courtesy of a comfortable 4-1 victory at Roots Hall and move into the top three for the first time this season.
The visitors opened their account after nine minutes when Ronan Murray's effort cannoned off the right post and Matt Ritchie drilled in the follow-up from 18 yards.
Things got better for Paulo Di Canio's team six minutes later when Ritchie's deep cross from the right found Joe Devera at the back post and he headed back across goal for an unmarked Jonathan Smith to score from six yards.
Southend pulled one back after 34 minutes when Sean Clohessy's cross was cleared by Smith to Jean-Paul Kalala, whose 25-yard shot went in off the left post.
But Swindon restored their two-goal advantage in the 27th minute when Devera had a free header at the back post from Ritchie's corner from the right.
Substitute Billy Bodin had only been on the pitch five minutes when he made it 4-1 in the 55th minute. Ritchie's cross from the right was palmed by Glenn Morris into the striker's path and he shot low into the centre of the goal from 16 yards.
Southend dropped a place to third following their heaviest home defeat of the season, with Swindon climbing from sixth spot.
The visitors opened their account after nine minutes when Ronan Murray's effort cannoned off the right post and Matt Ritchie drilled in the follow-up from 18 yards.
Things got better for Paulo Di Canio's team six minutes later when Ritchie's deep cross from the right found Joe Devera at the back post and he headed back across goal for an unmarked Jonathan Smith to score from six yards.
Southend pulled one back after 34 minutes when Sean Clohessy's cross was cleared by Smith to Jean-Paul Kalala, whose 25-yard shot went in off the left post.
But Swindon restored their two-goal advantage in the 27th minute when Devera had a free header at the back post from Ritchie's corner from the right.
Substitute Billy Bodin had only been on the pitch five minutes when he made it 4-1 in the 55th minute. Ritchie's cross from the right was palmed by Glenn Morris into the striker's path and he shot low into the centre of the goal from 16 yards.
Southend dropped a place to third following their heaviest home defeat of the season, with Swindon climbing from sixth spot.
| Competition: npower League Two Date: Tuesday, 31st January 2012 Kick off: 19:45 Venue: Roots Hall | ||||
 |
Southend Utd.
Kalala 34
|
1 - 4 | Swindon Town
Ritchie 9
Smith 16 Devera 37 Bodin 55 |
 |
| Match Finished | ||||
| Starting line-ups | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenn Morris | |
| 3 | Peter Gilbert | |
| 27 | Pat Baldwin | |
| 23 | Chris Barker | |
| 12 | Kane Ferdinand (Bilel 46) | |
| 2 | Sean Clohessy | |
| 4 | Ryan Hall | |
| 19 | Jean-Paul Kalala | |
| 8 | Michael Timlin | |
| 26 | Jack Sampson | |
| 22 | Liam Dickinson (Martin 62) | |
| Substitutes | ||
| 6 | Bilel Mohsni (Ferdinand 46) | |
| 14 | Dave Martin (Dickinson 62) | |
| 24 | Elliot Benyon | |
| 7 | Anthony Grant | |
| 9 | Neil Harris | |
| Starting line-ups | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Wes Foderingham | |
| 3 | Callum Kennedy | |
| 7 | Paul Caddis | |
| 5 | Joe Devera | |
| 13 | Oliver Risser (Ferry 82) | |
| 19 | Luke Rooney (De Vita 84) | |
| 24 | Jonathan Smith | |
| 12 | Alan McCormack | |
| 10 | Matt Ritchie | |
| 34 | Ronan Murray (Bodin 50) | |
| 9 | Paul Benson | |
| Substitutes | ||
| 8 | Simon Ferry (Risser 82) | |
| 6 | Daniel Boateng | |
| 23 | Raffaele De Vita (Rooney 84) | |
| 31 | Billy Bodin (Murray 50) | |
| 17 | Alan Connell | |
| 47.8% | Possession | 52.2% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goal Attempts | 4 |
| 1 | On Target | 4 |
| 0 | Off Target | 0 |
| 0 | Hit Woodwork | 0 |
| 6 | Corners | 9 |
| Referee | Attendance |
|---|---|
| Oliver Langford | 5,958 |
| Southend Utd. cards shown | ||
|---|---|---|
| 58 mins | Jean-Paul Kalala | Unsporting behaviour |
| 76 mins | Michael Timlin | Unsporting behaviour |
| Swindon Town cards shown | ||
| 26 mins | Alan McCormack | Unsporting behaviour |
Click here to see a full list of the football results from Tuesday, 31st January 2012.
Top of League Two
| 1 | Cheltenham Town | 27 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 24 | 55 | +18 | ||||
| 2 | Swindon Town | 27 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 45 | 21 | 52 | +24 | ||||
| 3 | Southend United | 27 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 52 | 32 | 52 | +20 | ||||
| 4 | Crawley Town | 26 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 30 | 52 | +18 | ||||
| 5 | Shrewsbury Town | 27 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 51 | +16 | ||||
| 6 | Torquay United | 28 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 42 | 32 | 50 | +10 | ||||
| 7 | Oxford United | 28 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 39 | 28 | 43 | +11 | ||||
| 8 | Accrington Stanley | 28 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 38 | 32 | 43 | +6 | ||||
| 9 | Burton Albion | 28 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 41 | 42 | 42 | -1 | ||||
| 10 | Gillingham | 27 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 39 | 41 | +8 | ||||
| 11 | Port Vale | 28 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 45 | 39 | 41 | +6 | ||||
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 28 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 21 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 37 | 40 | 39 | -3 | ||||
| 13 | Rotherham United | 27 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 28 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 42 | 37 | +2 | ||||
| 14 | Morecambe | 27 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 34 | 36 | +9 | ||||
| 15 | AFC Wimbledon | 28 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 22 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 53 | 35 | -14 | ||||
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 28 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 33 | -13 | ||||
| 17 | Barnet | 27 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 35 | 46 | 32 | -11 | ||||
| 18 | Aldershot Town | 27 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 26 | 35 | 31 | -9 | ||||
| 19 | Macclesfield Town | 28 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 34 | 30 | -8 | ||||
| 20 | Bradford City | 27 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 32 | 38 | 27 | -6 | ||||
| 21 | Hereford United | 28 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 27 | 45 | 26 | -18 | ||||
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 28 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 49 | 24 | -20 | ||||
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 28 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 29 | 50 | 22 | -21 | ||||
| 24 | Northampton Town | 28 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 33 | 57 | 21 | -24 | ||||
Report Source: PA Sport
Source: PA