Colchester United 0 Swindon Town 1

COLCHESTER United’s mini-run was ended by Paolo Di Canio’s in-form Swindon Town, at a wintry Weston Homes Community Stadium tonight.

Di Canio introduced James Collins as a half-time substitute, and the Italian’s plan worked as his front-man slammed home a 53rd minute winner.

Collins sneaked behind the U’s defence to beat keeper Sam Walker with a slick finish, from 12 yards out.

The U’s huffed and puffed, but rarely looked like fashioning an equaliser against a Swindon side who are now unbeaten in 10 games, with six wins and four draws.

By contrast, the U’s run of back-to-back wins, over Walsall and Portsmouth, has ended, following the previous sequence of nine straight defeats.

Billy Clifford was closest to scoring for the U’s, with his curling shot clawed away by impressive keeper Wes Foderingham in the first half.

John White was also denied by Foderingham in the first period, but the U’s struggled to create many chances in the second half.

Squads

COLCHESTER: Walker, Wilson, Okuonghae, Thompson, White, David Wright, Clifford (sub Compton, 85), Porter (sub Morrison, 76), Sears, Massey (sub Drey Wright, 68), Ibehre. Unused subs: Cousins, Bond, Bean, Eastman.

SWINDON: Foderingham, Thompson, Flint, Ward, McEveley, Roberts, Navarro (sub Ferry, 59), Miller, De Vita (sub Collins, 46), Rooney (sub McCormack, 83), Williams. Unused sub: Bedwell.

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)

Attendance: 3,214