Having been just one shy of conceding a century of goals last season, Swindon Town have made great strides at the back at the beginning of this campaign.

Last season Swindon were about as effective at the back as using a paper straw as a dam but things have turned around a lot this campaign.

Whilst ten goals conceded in seven matches is not exactly an outstanding defensive record, it is already a marked improvement and as much as that is the only number that truly counts, the underlying numbers are very impressive.

Town have allowed the fourth-lowest xG, the fifth-fewest shots, the third-fewest shots on target, the fifth-fewest opposition touches in their penalty area, and the sixth-fewest shots from fast breaks in League Two so far – not everyone is an xG fan, but in plain English, teams are having a tough time creating chances against Swindon.

Mark Kennedy was typically effusive about the statistics surrounding his rebuilt Swindon defence, for which he has been able to import the steel for which his Lincoln City side was well-known.

Carlisle's shot map against SwindonCarlisle's shot map against Swindon (Image: FotMob)

If you look at the shot maps for last four league games Swindon have played, teams have struggled to create chances in good areas, no team have scored more goals than Notts County this season and they only managed one shot from inside the box at the Nigel Eady County Ground and that was from in front of the near post. Whilst Carlisle United’s looks more impressive, only two of their shots were from open play and one was blocked and the other missed the target, combined they had a 14 per cent chance of going in.

A key way Kennedy has created this is to have a far more strict defensive structure. Michael Flynn wanted to play man-marking all over the pitch last season and whilst it worked in the chaotic opening nine games, it did not take long for teams to figure out how to play against this and exploit the space they could create.

Now, Swindon do look to counter-press as soon as the ball is lost but if they are unsuccessful then they will fall back and make it tough for teams to be able to play through them. The front two will allow the opposition defenders to hold the ball but aggressively block passing lanes into midfield, with the trio behind waiting to push across and deny space if the ball goes wide.

 

 

In this example, Carlisle take a free-kick short on the halfway line, with Swindon sitting in their narrow shape. The Blues look to play the ball out to the wing-back before he is quickly closed down by Danny Butterworth, with Paul Glatzel, George Cox, and Miguel Freckleton closing down his passing options and they have to settle for a throw-in.

In this shape, Swindon look to play a fairly high line and constrict the space in midfield, which means that there is space in behind for longer balls. However, there were multiple times when Carlisle looked to do this but were easily countered by the recovery speed of Tunmise Sobowale, which has become invaluable in the back three, think his tackle on Aaron Wildig before the second goal against Newport.

Carlisle look to slip a ball in behindCarlisle look to slip a ball in behind (Image: IFollow) Sobowale is able to race back and recoverSobowale is able to race back and recover (Image: IFollow)

Again in the first half, Sobowale has been caught slightly too narrow, giving space between him and Jeff King for Carlisle to play Luke Armstrong into.

The forward is already making his run before the pass is played but Sobowale accelerates quickly and sweeps up in behind.

Whilst there are definitely still improvements to be made, conceding from two corners proved that, the foundations at the back are now far stronger for Swindon to build on.