Robins cruise past Valiants

Lukas Magera's first League Two goal and a second-half penalty by Mehdi Kerrouche earned Swindon a 2-0 win at Port Vale.

Swindon's Spanish winger Lander Gabilondo and Vale midfielder Doug Loft went close in an even start to a feisty contest between two teams with League Two promotion ambitions. And it was Gabilondo who set up the opening goal in the 25th minute at Vale Park on Saturday when he cut in from the left to roll an inviting pass into the path of Magera. The big striker cracked a low 20-yard shot inside Stuart Tomlinson's right-hand post for his first Swindon goal, but there were serious question marks over Vale's defending. Vale boss Micky Adams, in charge for his 100th game at the club, made two changes at half-time, but it was Kerrouche who made a swift impact when he fired home a 47th-minute penalty. Adam Yates was penalised for climbing on the back of Magera and Kerrouche made no mistake with an unstoppable shot high inside Tomlinson's left-hand post. Vale huffed and puffed in an attempt to find a way back, but Swindon's fifth consecutive clean sheet was rarely under threat.