Paddy Madden hat-trick helps Accrington to win over 10-man Swindon

Paddy Madden’s hat-trick condemned 10-man Swindon to only their second defeat in eight League Two games as Accrington won 4-0.

The high-flying Robins had won six of their previous seven games but had to play with 10 men for 53 minutes at the Wham Stadium and Stanley capitalised in style.

Swindon were already trailing to Madden’s first goal for Stanley on eight minutes. Alex Henderson found the frontman 25 yards out and he hit it first time, chipping the ball over Connor Ripley.

The next big moment came on 37 minutes when Robins captain Ollie Clarke was sent off for violent conduct after an alleged elbow on Henderson.

Both sides hit the woodwork after the break. Seamus Conneely’s strike rattled the post for Stanley while keeper Ollie Wright tipped Ollie Palmer’s header onto the crossbar for Swindon.

Finley Munroe’s 35-yard strike then smashed against the crossbar for the visitors on 62 minutes.

The Reds grabbed their second after 72 minutes when Isaac Heath broke and passed for Madden to slot home from close range.

Heath then raced forward after 79 minutes and fired home his first EFL goal before Madden celebrated his hat-trick in the second minute of added time, his strike going between Ripley’s legs.