THE smiles were back at Valley Parade as City returned to winning ways under caretaker boss Kevin McDonald.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER enjoyed the show as much as the fans and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Bobby Pointon – but it could have been any of half a dozen in claret and amber.

The local lad will have dreamed of scoring the winner for City at Valley Parade and deserved his moment for such a livewire display on his return to the side.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The only thing missing about Bobby Pointon’s goal was that it was not in front of the Kop.

But it summed up City’s go-forward approach as Jamie Walker alertly kept the ball alive when Murphy Mahoney fumbled Brad Halliday’s shot and the youngster was on hand to convert from close range.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Not one really – apart from City not scoring more than once from all their promising approach play.

TACTICS

Kevin McDonald made three changes in his first line-up – notably recalling skipper Richie Smallwood and Bobby Pointon. Alex Gilliead was also brought back in.

Alex Pattison is out with another hamstring injury, Rayhaan Tulloch was ill while Daniel Oyegoke dropped to the bench. Ash Taylor made a return to the squad after a lengthy injury absence.

REFEREE: Chris Pollard (Bury St Edmunds)

BOOKINGS: Walker, Smallwood, Halliday (City); Khan, Hutton, Austin (Swindon)

ATTENDANCE: 16,788

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 4 Swindon 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 14 Swindon 9

CORNERS: City 6 Swindon 3

FOULS: City 11 Swindon 7

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: Lewis 7, Halliday 8, Platt 7, Stubbs 8, Ridehalgh 7 , Smallwood 8, Gilliead 8, Pointon 8 (Oyegoke 72min), Walker 8 (Smith 83min), Wilson 7 (Osadebe 67min), Cook 7. Subs (not used): Taylor, Afoka, Kelly, Doyle.

SWINDON: Mahoney 6, Godwin-Malife 6, Brewitt 7, Blake-Tracey 6, Hutton 7, McEachran 7, Khan 6 (Obodo 77min), Shade 6 (Genesini 90min), Kemp 7, Hepburn-Murphy 6, Austin 5. Subs (not used): Uwakwe, Kinsella, Minturn, Ward.