A nice way to wake up this morning

Great news on getting into work this morning, Simon Ferry's loan deal has been extended until the end of the season!

Town fans couldn't be blamed for worrying slightly that the squad might be looking a bit thin come January when our loan deals run out; Ben Hutchinson (Celtic), Simon Ferry (Celtic), Alex Revell (Southend). And with Tope Obadeyi heading back to the heady heights of the Premiership with Bolton earlier this month after we exhausted our loan extensions with him, it comes as great news that the pick of the loan bunch has signed on for the cause until the end of the season.

Ferry has been a hugely important addition to the team, instantly sparking a partnership with Jonathan Douglas in the centre of midfield, and holding the fort during the latter's 4 game ban. He's already picked up two (if my memory serves me correctly) Man of the Match awards during his time here. Admittedly these are picked by whoever has paid for the "executive seating", but lets not take anything away from the lad, he's put in some inspired performances and I'd be quite happy to say he's one of the best midfielders we've had at the club for a while.

The Swindon Advertiser are this morning rolling with an interview where Ferry states that he'd like to turn his loan deal into a permanent one. Ferry would gladly be welcomed permanently by us all I think, though Celtic fans on 606 say the 21 year old is highly regarded and he's being watched closely. Whether this view is reflected by current manager Tony Mowbray, and whether he will still be managed at the end of the season is yet to be seen. The water is not under the bridge and a lot can change between now and May.

And of course, there is still the 2 possible loan signings that Wilson mentioned. He said there was a possibility of getting one, maybe two new signings before our FA Cup trip to Wrexham on Saturday. With no news on that front I'm constantly refreshing web pages so if I bring the internet to a standstill I apologise, its for a good cause!!

See you in Wales!

Its good to be back - Town tame the Terriers at a blustery County Ground

Unbeaten in the league since the tough trip to Carrow Road, and our only defeat in the last 4 being as we crashed out of the Johnstones Paint Trophy to Norwich in the reverse fixture on penalties some 2 weeks later, Danny Wilson called for another positive performance as high-flying Huddersfield came to Town. And the Tuesday night fixture gave Danny Wilson food-for-thought as a sturdy performance proved that money doesn't mean everything in Coca Cola League 1.

The talk of the County Ground revolved around two things. Firstly, the appearance of Theo Robinson, whose 6-figure sum at the start of the season was snubbed at the eleventh hour when he looked certain to be pulling on the red shirt, instead choosing the landscape of Yorkshire and donning the blue and white stripes of Huddersfield. The other being that of one Charlie Austin who has been pulled from non-league obscurity to fill those boots that Robinson left and that Hutchinson and Revell have so far struggled to keep on. "Austin" is quickly and quietly becoming a household name amongst followers of the Robins as he appears to have adapted his prolific non-league scoring record to suit that of League 1 Reserve standards, and now Wilson is handing him the chance to prove himself in the first team.

Austin made his first start in a red shirt on Saturday against Carlisle, where he snatched all 3 points for Town with a solitary 3rd minute goal on his debut. And Wilson said "same again" for the Huddersfield clash as he was given his 2nd start alongside Billy Paynter up front.

The performance certainly wasn't one for the purists as both teams battled against the stormy conditions in the County Ground, but it was Reds who ultimately dug in and dealt with the blustery atmosphere to close in on the playoffs once more.

The Robins spurned a decent chance with the first 10 minutes as the wind played havoc with Austin's cross, holding the ball up and dropping it to loanee Simon Ferry. From the edge of the area Ferry played through McNamee who could only hit a tame shot, allowing Alex Smithies an easy save early on.

A further 10 minutes on and with the conditions not improving the game had broken down as both teams struggled to hold up their overhit passes as the uncertainty of the wind played havoc with the ball. Minute's later however The Robins showed early signs of coping with the conditions as a lovely link up between Austin and Paynter saw the latter break the deadlock. As the wind held up a long ball forward from the Swindon backline, scouser Billy Paynter nodded the ball down for Austin. The 20 year old, with his back to goal, completed a one-two through ball with Paynter who made no mistake, slipping the ball under the on-rushing Smithies.
Four minutes later, and with nothing to blame but the stunning right boot of Lee Novak, the scores were back level. After a long clearance from Smithies, Novak sat on the ball some 25 yards out as the Town defence appeared to shut out any further progress. However, with nothing on Novak struck a crashing drive, the kind you know is in as soon as he hit it. The ball flew into the top corner with David Lucas stranded in the Swindon goal.

The rest of the first half fell victim to the wind as Swindon struggled to keep possession, though managed to limit Huddersfield to wild, long range efforts. The half time whistle was a welcome sound as we burrowed down under the Don Rogers Stand to the comfort and warmth of the bar.

The stormy weather appears to have let up as the 2nd half kicked off, though conditions were undoubtedly poorer out on the pitch, compared to the huddled mass of the crowd.

Huddersfield appeared to start the 2nd half the brightest of the two teams, as they attempted to take the game to Swindon. Terriers' skipper Peter Clarke was denied a stunning 25 yard goal as his powerful strike shook the frame of the goal, with David Lucas again all but beaten by a sensational strike.

However, our old friend The Wind reared its ugly head. With Huddersfield attempting to play into the wind, utility-midfielder Antony Kay's poor clearance was propelled back towards his own goal by the wind, and bizarrely out for a Swindon corner.

Taking the conditions into account, Jon-Paul McGovern's delivery into a mass of red shirts was inch perfect. And as it looked like Paynter was going to head the ball into the back of the net to push The Robins back in front, a combination of the whip on the ball and the wind saw it taken away, and the steward's enquiry is still out as to whether Paynter managed to get anything on the ball, but it sailed safely wide as the scores remained level.

And as both team's continued to battle on, it was Huddersfield who fell first to the conditions, as Charlie Austin's dream start to his career at Swindon got even better. As McNamee had looked weak and lacklustre on the left wing throughout the game, wing back Jean-Francois Lescinel took it on himself to turn Town provider. The Haitian international robbed Anthony Pilkington with a stunning tackle in front of the dugouts. With Austin in the crosshair, Lescinel delivered a sensational ball to the frontman with pinpoint accuracy on the edge of the box. And Austin gave onlookers a small taste of his ability as his deft touch and strength to hold of the challenge of marker meant that a finish was all that was required. The Swindon-born striker sent the County Ground into a frenzy as the net rippled following Austin's drilled shot.
5 minutes on and Austin was replaced by Alex Revell. The striker left the pitch to a standing ovation of 6000+ home fans and a chorus of "There's only one Charlie Austin", a real surreal moment for myself having been an avid Swindon fan for years, and sharing my Primary and Secondary school years with Charlie.

Revell nearly wrapped the game up for Town, as another dangerous corner from Jon-Paul McGovern was put just the wrong side of the goal by the head of the striker.

In an attempt to salvage a point from the game, Lee Clarke bought Theo Robinson into the fray, and with the County Ground in a buoyant atmosphere, the home faithful gave Robinson a taste of their mind, exchanging the Charlie Austin chant with "There's only one Greedy Bastard". And as Robinson skyed a shot into the roof of the Town End, it was clear that Swindon were not going to relinquish their lead, and claimed an impressive victory to push us back in the fray of the playoff battle.

FA guilty of preferential treatment?

Tonight the County Ground plays host to the battle of the birds as The Robins take on The Canaries in the Johnstones Paint Trophy Area Quarter Finals. The home fans will desperately welcome the return of midfielder Jonathan Douglas who has finally come to the end of his ludicrous 4 match ban which saw outrage emanate from the Swindon Town board room and manager's office. Douglas saw an automatic 3 match ban for a questionable straight red card in a high-tempered game at the County Ground against Millwall. Feeling that the Reds' case for appeal was strong, the County Ground officials put together a package that questioned the 3 match ban for a tackle that warranted a caution at most. The FA shot down the appeal in what seemed like a plea for respect and outrageously added an extra game sidelining Douglas for a total of 4 games.

Today, exactly a month since Douglas saw red, there have been at least 2 identical situations, where suspension appeals have been thrown out by the FA. For some reason however, the players in question escaped an extended suspension, baffling County Ground officials and fans alike. Darcy Blake of Plymouth was dismissed in a 1-1 draw with fellow Championship struggles Ipswich Town. Plymouth's appeal against the 3 match ban was ignored, but they faced no similar repercussions as Swindon did. Philipp Degen of Premiership outfit Liverpool was given his marching orders in their 3-1 defeat at Fulham's craven cottage. Again, the appeal was thrown out, but now extension to the 3 match ban was given. The point here being that nobody wants to see the suspension of these players extended, more so an explanation of the almost preferential treatment to two bigger clubs.

In similar circumstances, I make my return after 3 weeks with no football. Its been a long time coming and I'm positively buzzing about tonight. Though the atmosphere will almost certainly be dead at SN1 as the Johnstones Paint Trophy ties continue to struggle to appeal to the more casual supporter, it won't put a damper on my evening. Come on you Reds!