Leaders Swindon made it 10 consecutive League Two wins to move eight points clear of fourth-placed Southend with victory over Burton Albion.

The Robins dominated and could have led at half-time, Paul Caddis forcing a save before Paul Benson headed wide.

But the hosts went ahead on 53 minutes when Benson headed the ball down for Ronan Murray to nod in on the line.

And Benson sealed victory five minutes later when he pounced after Ross Atkins failed to hold Luke Rooney's ball.

Benson's close-range effort was the 100th goal of the 32-year-old former Dagenham & Redbridge and Charlton Athletic striker's career.

The Robins are now four points clear at the top of the table going into Saturday's derby away to rivals Oxford United.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Swindon manager Paolo di Canio told BBC Wiltshire:

"The Burton players all worked hard and it was difficult to find space, they closed down very well.

"It wasn't easy but my players were amazing because they had patience.

"In the second half we saw the difference, we created six or seven chances.

"I'm very happy because it was a completely different performance from what we saw a few days ago. They learnt straight away from the mistakes."

Burton Albion manager Paul Peschisolido told BBC Radio Derby:

"For the first 45 minutes, the game plan was going well. We stopped them at source, we worked extremely hard, got bodies behind the ball and passed it all right. But, in the second half, their quality showed through. The difference was there for everyone to see and they just had too much for us.

"They scored at the right times. We had to try and get an equaliser and, because of it, we left ourselves open and struggled. Whether we ran out of steam, I don't know, but we conceded a goal at a terrible time.

"If we could have held on for a bit longer, the game could perhaps have opened up for us and we might have caught them on the counter attack."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Swindon Town

  • 35 Foderingham
  • 05 Devera
  • 07 Caddis
  • 27 Cibocchi Booked
  • 08 Ferry
  • 10 Ritchie
  • 12 McCormack
  • 19 Rooney (De Vita - 77' )
  • 24 Smith (Risser - 29' )
  • 09 Benson
  • 17 Connell (Murray - 50' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Kennedy
  • 13 Risser
  • 16 Cox
  • 23 De Vita
  • 34 Murray

Burton Albion

  • 23 Atkins
  • 02 Driver
  • 04 Stanton
  • 05 James
  • 08 Corbett
  • 06 McGrath (Gurrieri - 78' )
  • 11 Palmer (Phillips - 55' Booked )
  • 13 Taylor
  • 22 Dyer Booked
  • 26 Bolder (Yussuf - 62' )
  • 09 Richards

Substitutes

  • 15 Austin
  • 20 Blanchett
  • 17 Phillips
  • 21 Gurrieri
  • 12 Yussuf
Ref: Graham
Att: 7,261

Match Stats

Shots

17 2

On target

5 1

Corners

13 0

Fouls

8 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:25 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +3:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Phillips by Matt Ritchie. Callum Driver restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:08

Corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Tony James. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line, clearance by Justin Richards.

89:48

Raffaele De Vita decides to take the corner short.

79:26

Unfair challenge on Alessandro Cibocchi by Justin Richards results in a free kick. Wesley Foderingham takes the direct free kick.

79:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Dyer by Paul Benson. Free kick taken by Ross Atkins.

78:23

Direct free kick taken by Alan McCormack.

78:23 Booking

Booking The referee books Jimmy Phillips for unsporting behaviour.

78:15

Jimmy Phillips challenges Paul Caddis unfairly and gives away a free kick.

76:57 Substitution

Substitution (Burton Albion) makes a substitution, with Andres Gurrieri coming on for John McGrath.

76:57 Substitution

Substitution Luke Rooney leaves the field to be replaced by Raffaele De Vita.

76:35

Short corner taken by Luke Rooney, clearance by Justin Richards.

75:02

Unfair challenge on Matt Ritchie by Jimmy Phillips results in a free kick. Alessandro Cibocchi shoots direct from the free kick, save made by Ross Atkins.

73:36

Joe Devera fouled by Adi Yussuf, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Caddis. Luke Rooney produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

70:45

Paul Benson is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Nathan Stanton.

69:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Corbett by Luke Rooney. Direct free kick taken by Andrew Corbett.

68:10

Jimmy Phillips has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

66:33

Simon Ferry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Phillips. Nathan Stanton takes the direct free kick.

65:03

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Rooney, Shot from inside the six-yard box by Paul Benson goes wide right of the target.

64:22

Luke Rooney takes the inswinging corner, John McGrath makes a clearance.

63:46

Inswinging corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line, clearance by Nathan Stanton.

62:50

Shot from just outside the box by Luke Rooney goes over the target.

61:45

Free kick taken by Wesley Foderingham.

61:45 Substitution

Substitution Adi Yussuf is brought on as a substitute for Adam Bolder.

61:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jimmy Phillips on Paul Caddis.

59:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Ferry on John McGrath. John McGrath takes the direct free kick.

57:46

Luke Rooney provided the assist for the goal.

57:46 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Benson - Swindon 2 - 0 Burton Goal scored by Paul Benson from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Swindon 2-0 Burton Albion.

57:05

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Luke Rooney, Adam Bolder makes a clearance.

55:11

Effort on goal by Luke Rooney from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

54:19 Substitution

Substitution Jimmy Phillips is brought on as a substitute for Chris Palmer.

52:59

The assist for the goal came from Paul Benson.

52:59 Goal scored

Goal - Ronan Murray - Swindon 1 - 0 Burton Ronan Murray finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Swindon 1-0 Burton Albion.

52:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Bolder on Oliver Risser. Alan McCormack restarts play with the free kick.

51:57

Shot from 18 yards by Matt Ritchie. Save made by Ross Atkins.

49:55

Oliver Risser fouled by Cleveland Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alessandro Cibocchi.

49:16 Substitution

Substitution (Swindon) makes a substitution, with Ronan Murray coming on for Alan Connell.

48:35

Paul Benson has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.

48:35

Close range headed effort by Paul Benson goes wide of the left-hand post.

47:32

Effort from the edge of the area by Matt Ritchie goes wide of the left-hand post.

45:40

Inswinging corner taken by Luke Rooney from the left by-line played to the near post, Nathan Stanton takes a shot. Clearance by Callum Driver.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:16 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:19

Corner taken short by Matt Ritchie, Effort on goal by Paul Caddis from 12 yards. Save by Ross Atkins. Corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line, Joe Devera has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

44:36

Inswinging corner taken by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line.

42:50

Effort from the edge of the box by Matt Ritchie goes wide of the left-hand upright.

40:23

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matt Ritchie from the right by-line to the near post, Header from deep inside the area by Joe Devera goes over the bar.

36:23

Unfair challenge on Chris Palmer by Matt Ritchie results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Callum Driver.

34:56

Simon Ferry fouled by Jack Dyer, the ref awards a free kick. Matt Ritchie crosses the ball in from the free kick.

33:58

Free kick crossed right-footed by Tony James from right channel, clearance by Simon Ferry.

33:58 Booking

Booking Booking for Alessandro Cibocchi for unsporting behaviour.

33:52

Andrew Corbett fouled by Alessandro Cibocchi, the ref awards a free kick.

32:53

Shot by Simon Ferry. Save made by Ross Atkins.

28:11 Substitution

Substitution Oliver Risser replaces Jonathan Smith.

25:26

The assistant referee signals for offside against Cleveland Taylor. Wesley Foderingham restarts play with the free kick.

23:52

Alan McCormack restarts play with the free kick.

23:52 Booking

Booking Jack Dyer goes into the book.

23:31

Jack Dyer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Simon Ferry.

21:01

Alan Connell concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony James. Ross Atkins takes the free kick.

17:57

Shot by Matt Ritchie from outside the box goes over the target.

15:16

Effort from the edge of the box by Simon Ferry goes wide of the left-hand upright.

6:36

Tony James challenges Paul Benson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan McCormack.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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