RICHIE Wellens became the first permanent Swindon manager in 10 years to lose his first league game in charge after he watched his side crash to a four-goal defeat against Carlisle United at the County Ground this afternoon.

Wellens made one change to the team that knocked York City out of the FA Cup last week as Matt Taylor replaced Scott Twine.

Town appeared to set up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Jermaine McGlashan and Ellis Iandolo as wing-backs and Taylor operating in a defensive midfield position as the new manager delivered his promise of taking risks in the first few games.

A patient start from Town eventually resulted in Luke Wolfenden chipping a through ball into the path of McGlashan who crossed for Keshi Anderson but the frontman’s header was a tame one and meekly floated wide.

10 minutes later, Ellis Iandolo dragged a first-time shot wide as Swindon continued to see plenty of the ball but failed to create any meaningful opportunities.

While Carlisle occasionally threatened, Swindon continued to exploit the away side down the sides. An Iandolo cross was volleyed over from 12 yards by James Dunne, although it was on the midfielders weaker left foot.

That was to be the 29-year-old’s last contribution as he was replaced by Martin Smith midway through the first-half.

But for all the early promise and endeavour, Swindon were nearly made to pay when Carlisle broke away thanks to sloppy play in midfield from the home side. Jerry Yates picked out an unmarked Jack Sowerby charging through the middle but the latter rushed his shot and fired straight at Lawrence Vigouroux.

Minutes before the break, the away side did take their chance. Jack Sowerby was found down Town’s left before guiding an inch-perfect low cross to United’s top-scorer Ashley Nadesan. The striker peeled off from the Town back line and rolled his shot in off the post to put Carlisle 1-0 up.

The frustration from the home side at not testing Adam Collin in the home goal was summed up when Taylor decided to take aim from around 40 yards out. Although it did cause Collin to stretch up and collect, it was Town’s only shot on target in the opening 45.

But deep into first half stoppage time, Town should have been level. Taylor whipped in a delightful cross that Iandolo should have done better with. Instead, the left-back shinned a guilt edge chance wide and summed up Swindon’s first half in front of goal.

A minute after the restart, Carlisle were two up. Goal scorer Nadesan turned provider when he headed back towards the unmarked Regan Slatter to volley home and give Wellens’ men an even steeper hill to climb.

Minutes later, the away side’s lead was extended further when Jamie Devitt stepped up and whipped an excellent free kick into the top corner to put Carlisle three up. It was Devitt’s fourth goal in his last three games and further heaped the misery on the home side.

In the 65th minute, things went from bad to worse for Wellens’ men. Carlisle broke in midfield through Hallam Hope who then found Slatter on the edge of the Swindon box. The Carlisle midfielder ran along the edge of the 18 yard box before drilling a shot low and hard past the helpless Vigouroux to make it four.

Swindon continued to dominate the ball but by this point, Carlisle were happy to defend with all 11 men behind the ball and even the introduction of FA Cup goal scorer Scott Twine did little to reinvigorate the home side’s attacking impetus.

Taylor flashed a few crosses along the face of goal in the closing minutes but Town never got on the end of them as they continued to make any kind of impression on the Carlisle goal as time ticked away.

Scott Twine flashed a fierce strike at goal from 25 yards out and Steven Alzate made Collin work with a good low strike but Carlisle left the County Ground with all three points having not won in their previous 20 visits to Wiltshire.