Luongo leaves Cooper purring

Swindon Mark Cooper heaped praise on Massimo Luongo following his side's 1-0 win over Port Vale at the County Ground.

Andy Williams' strike earned Swindon a 1-0 win over Port Vale - but it was Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo who left the County Ground with the accolades of manager Mark Cooper ringing in his ears. Playing his farewell match for Swindon before jetting off to play for the Socceroos in the upcoming Asia Cup, Luongo produced a stunning individual performance and was at the heart of most of Swindon's midfield play. "I thought he was outstanding, he deserved his man of the match award and leaves us with a heavy heart," Cooper said. "Massimo's work rate was phenomenal. With the Asia Cup coming up, it would have been all too easy for him to have eased off and taken a back seat, but instead he did the opposite and turned in a stunning performance. "He was desperately unlucky not to score in the second half when a moment of magic sent him gliding past several challenges - only to see his shot roll right across the face of goal and wide f the far post." The result, which coincided with MK Dons crashing 3-0 to Walsall, lifted Swindon back into the automatic League One promotion places, one point behind Bristol City at the turn of the year. Once again, it was a result which Swindon had to grind out but, according to Cooper, one his side should have won far more easily. "That game should never have been 1-0. We should have won by four or five and should have gone in at half time ahead," Cooper said. "We need to be better and a bit more clinical. "We have to keep playing, keep performing. There are a lot of good teams in League One and sides are coming to the County Ground, setting out their stall and making it very difficult for us to break them down." The second-half header by Williams was the striker's 15th of the season and third of the Christmas weekend, in which he also scored twice in the 4-1 in at Walsall. But Vale boss Rob Page said: "I was disappointed with the goal. He's (Andy Williams) had a free header. "Nonetheless, I am proud of the boys. I thought we were good for a point towards the end, "We were putting them under pressure so much they were playing in the corners. "To come here and be disappointed we didn't get anything out of the game shows us how far we have come. "We are never happy with defeats but if you are going to lose a game of football that is the way to lose. "We went 4-4-2 at the end and pressed them high up the pitch. They are very good outfit, well drilled and comfortable on the ball."