Swindon began life without Paolo Di Canio by going top of League One with victory at Tranmere Rovers as Fabrizio Piccareta won his first and only game in charge before resigning.

James Collins latched on to a through ball to score his 15th of the season and Gary Roberts' volley made it 2-0.

Donervon Daniels bundled in to close the gap, before Roberts scored a spectacular second from his own half.

Piccareta then said he and his coaching staff would quit on Wednesday.

The Italian stated: "We leave the team top of the league in League One but it's the outcome of the fantastic job that Paolo Di Canio and the team and ourselves as technical staff have done in the last two years.

"We are here for Paolo Di Canio and we will follow him everywhere even if he coaches at Real Madrid or Luton Town because we are a team and we have shown these past two years that if you have a strong team and all the people involved are a strong team you can make a fantastic achievement."

Swindon went top on goal difference with former league leaders Tranmere slipping two points behind in sixth place.

Collins was a menace throughout the game and looked the most likely player to break the deadlock in the first half.

The Swindon striker twice went close in the first half with his second effort forcing a fantastic save from Rovers goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams.

But the hosts got stronger as the half went on and Cole Stockton shot over and put a header wide just before half-time.

Collins scored three minutes after the break from a Simon Ferry through ball and Roberts had a goal disallowed for offside as Swindon continued to dominate.

Zoumana Bakayogo went close for Tranmere at one end, before Roberts' spectacular strike made it 2-0 to Swindon.

Daniels reacted first in the box after Swindon failed to clear a Max Power free-kick to give Tranmere hope.

But, with Tranmere keeper Fon Williams joining the attack as Rovers went in search of an equaliser, Roberts fired the ball into an empty net from his own half.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"Swindon have got quality players. That's why they're top of the league. We've got workhorses who'll give their all.

"When we've got our best 11 in we're a match for anybody, but at the moment we haven't got that.

"We don't look like we're going to keep a clean sheet and our two centre-halves are not playing particularly well. Maybe that's an area we need to look at for the Colchester game [on Saturday]."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Tranmere Rovers

  • 01 fon Williams
  • 04 Taylor
  • 14 Bakayogo
  • 19 Kay
  • 23 Daniels
  • 10 Robinson
  • 17 Power
  • 24 Corry
  • 16 Stockton (Black - 64' )
  • 18 Amoo (Bell-Baggie - 64' )
  • 20 O'Halloran

Substitutes

  • 33 Mooney
  • 03 Black
  • 05 Goodison
  • 07 Thompson
  • 12 Harrison
  • 15 Kirby
  • 22 Bell-Baggie

Swindon Town

  • 01 Foderingham
  • 03 McEveley Booked
  • 04 Flint
  • 22 Ward
  • 08 Ferry (Navarro - 75' )
  • 11 Roberts
  • 12 McCormack
  • 18 Miller
  • 09 Collins
  • 20 Storey (Williams - 25' )
  • 23 De Vita (Thompson - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Bedwell
  • 15 Thompson
  • 32 Smith
  • 06 Navarro
  • 16 Williams
  • 28 Rooney
Ref: Sarginson
Att: 5,223

Match Stats

Shots

12 18

On target

4 10

Corners

3 10

Fouls

6 18

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:04 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +4:21

Foul by Darren Ward on Andy Robinson, free kick awarded. Andy Robinson takes the direct free kick, Zoumana Bakayogo takes a shot. Wes Foderingham makes a save.

90:00 +2:59 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Roberts - Tranmere 1 - 3 Swindon Gary Roberts finds the back of the net with a goal from long range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tranmere 1-3 Swindon.

90:00 +1:57

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Max Power from the left by-line to the near post, Michael Kay takes a shot. Save by Wes Foderingham.

90:00 +1:43

James Collins sends in a cross, Ash Taylor makes a clearance.

90:00 +1:14

Gary Roberts takes a short corner.

90:00 +0:24

Andy Robinson fouled by Alan Navarro, the ref awards a free kick. Max Power crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Aden Flint manages to make a clearance.

89:44

Paul Black produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

88:36

Abdulai Bell-Baggie produces a cross.

86:07

Abdulai Bell-Baggie fouled by Jay McEveley, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is crossed by Max Power, Header from deep inside the area by Michael Kay goes over the bar.

85:09

Corner taken short by Tommy Miller, save made by Owain Fon Williams.

84:50

Andy Williams takes a shot. Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

84:37

The ball is crossed by Abdulai Bell-Baggie, Aden Flint makes a clearance.

83:42

Andy Williams is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Paul Black takes the direct free kick.

83:26

The ball is sent over by Paul Black, clearance by Alan Navarro.

80:21 Substitution

Substitution (Swindon) makes a substitution, with Nathan Thompson coming on for Raffaele De Vita.

78:50

Free kick crossed right-footed by Max Power from right wing.

78:50 Booking

Booking Jay McEveley goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

78:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jay McEveley on Donervorn Daniels.

77:27 Goal scored

Goal - Donervorn Daniels - Tranmere 1 - 2 Swindon Donervorn Daniels grabs a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tranmere 1-2 Swindon.

76:52

Foul by Alan Navarro on Andy Robinson, free kick awarded. Max Power restarts play with the free kick.

76:08

Michael O'Halloran produces a cross, Shot on goal by Paul Black from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

74:43

Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

74:43 Substitution

Substitution Alan Navarro replaces Simon Ferry.

74:43

Jay McEveley concedes a free kick for a foul on Abdulai Bell-Baggie.

73:13

Donervorn Daniels fouled by Aden Flint, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

72:16

Corner from the left by-line taken by Tommy Miller, save by Owain Fon Williams.

71:31

Ash Taylor delivers the ball, Foul by Zoumana Bakayogo on Aden Flint, free kick awarded. Wes Foderingham takes the free kick.

70:01 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Roberts - Tranmere 0 - 2 Swindon Gary Roberts finds the net with a goal from outside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Tranmere 0-2 Swindon.

69:31

The ball is crossed by Michael Kay, Zoumana Bakayogo takes a shot. Aden Flint gets a block in.

68:38

Paul Black crosses the ball, Wes Foderingham makes a save.

67:02

Raffaele De Vita sends in a cross.

63:51 Substitution

Substitution Paul Black joins the action as a substitute, replacing Cole Stockton.

63:26 Substitution

Substitution Abdulai Bell-Baggie comes on in place of David Amoo.

62:23

Andy Williams produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

61:08

Unfair challenge on Paul Corry by James Collins results in a free kick. Paul Corry takes the direct free kick.

60:53

Michael Kay sends in a cross, Alan McCormack manages to make a clearance.

59:42

David Amoo crosses the ball.

57:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tommy Miller on Max Power. Free kick crossed right-footed by Max Power.

57:15

James Collins takes a shot. Owain Fon Williams makes a save. The referee blows for offside against Tommy Miller. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

56:27

Andy Robinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Williams. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Gary Roberts, clearance by Ash Taylor.

55:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Williams by Michael Kay. Direct free kick taken by Jay McEveley.

54:42

Gary Roberts challenges Paul Corry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Donervorn Daniels takes the free kick.

54:14

A cross is delivered by Paul Corry, clearance made by Darren Ward.

53:32

Darren Ward challenges Michael O'Halloran unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael O'Halloran crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Aden Flint.

53:11

Alan McCormack crosses the ball, clearance made by Michael Kay.

51:13

The ball is crossed by Alan McCormack, Ash Taylor manages to make a clearance.

50:32

Andy Williams takes a shot. Donervorn Daniels gets a block in. Gary Roberts takes a short corner.

49:58

Tommy Miller fouled by Michael O'Halloran, the ref awards a free kick. Jay McEveley takes the free kick.

47:59 Goal scored

Goal - James Collins - Tranmere 0 - 1 Swindon A goal is scored by James Collins from outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Tranmere 0-1 Swindon.

47:36

Shot by Jay McEveley from outside the box goes over the net.

47:14

Andy Williams takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams.

47:00

The ball is sent over by Jay McEveley, Ash Taylor manages to make a clearance.

46:04

Foul by Ash Taylor on James Collins, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Alan McCormack.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:15 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:54

Raffaele De Vita sends in a cross, clearance by Andy Robinson.

45:00 +1:34

Centre by Michael Kay, Wes Foderingham makes a save.

45:00 +0:44

Raffaele De Vita concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Kay. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

44:12

The ball is delivered by Michael Kay, Header from close range by Cole Stockton misses to the right of the target.

42:43

The ball is sent over by Alan McCormack, Close range header by James Collins misses to the right of the target.

41:38

Effort on goal by Cole Stockton from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

40:05

Effort from outside the penalty box by Donervorn Daniels goes wide right of the target.

38:34

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Andy Robinson from the right by-line to the near post, Simon Ferry manages to make a clearance.

35:36

The referee blows for offside against Michael O'Halloran. Jay McEveley restarts play with the free kick.

33:23

Aden Flint concedes a free kick for a foul on Owain Fon Williams. Owain Fon Williams takes the direct free kick.

32:49

Gary Roberts sends in a cross, clearance by Donervorn Daniels. Short corner taken by Raffaele De Vita from the left by-line, Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

32:02

Ash Taylor challenges Andy Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alan McCormack takes the free kick.

30:49

James Collins takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams. Jay McEveley challenges David Amoo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael Kay takes the direct free kick.

29:58

Shot by James Collins from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

29:07

Michael O'Halloran handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Jay McEveley restarts play with the free kick.

27:13

Andy Robinson takes a short corner, clearance made by Aden Flint.

26:16

James Collins is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

25:27

Andy Williams gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Zoumana Bakayogo. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

24:49 Substitution

Substitution Andy Williams comes on in place of Miles Storey.

23:53

The ball is swung over by Miles Storey, Raffaele De Vita takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

23:39

Gary Roberts sends in a cross, clearance by Zoumana Bakayogo.

22:30

Effort from the edge of the box by James Collins goes wide of the left-hand upright.

21:17

Effort from inside the six-yard box by Miles Storey goes wide right of the goal.

20:58

The ball is crossed by Gary Roberts, Ash Taylor manages to make a clearance.

19:36

The ball is crossed by Zoumana Bakayogo, clearance by Aden Flint.

19:36

A cross is delivered by Zoumana Bakayogo, Aden Flint makes a clearance.

17:59

The ball is sent over by Zoumana Bakayogo, Darren Ward makes a clearance.

16:53

Raffaele De Vita takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Michael Kay. Gary Roberts has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.

16:41

Centre by Alan McCormack, Michael Kay manages to make a clearance.

16:05

Centre by Miles Storey, Paul Corry manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Gary Roberts, Ash Taylor manages to make a clearance.

15:27

Shot by Andy Robinson from outside the box goes over the net.

14:30

David Amoo delivers the ball.

13:22

Miles Storey challenges Donervorn Daniels unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ash Taylor restarts play with the free kick.

12:09

James Collins takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams. Short corner taken by Tommy Miller from the left by-line, Ash Taylor manages to make a clearance.

10:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Amoo by Raffaele De Vita. Free kick crossed right-footed by Andy Robinson from right wing, clearance made by Aden Flint.

8:58

Gary Roberts is adjudged to have handled the ball. Paul Corry takes the direct free kick.

7:32

Inswinging corner taken by Gary Roberts from the right by-line, save by Owain Fon Williams.

6:58

Max Power has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

5:59

The assistant referee flags for offside against Miles Storey. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

5:45

James Collins takes a shot. Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

2:19

Gary Roberts gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Zoumana Bakayogo. Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

1:43

Short corner worked by Tommy Miller, Owain Fon Williams makes a save.

0:17

Cole Stockton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Wes Foderingham takes the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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