Marney's OK

Relief for all concerned that Dean Marney hasn't broken his foot after hobbling off in Saturday's game. The player's hoping to be back in the frame for the weekend trip to Barnsley. Good to see, also, that Alan Young bagged a hat-trick yesterday in the reserve match, although it doesn't look like the trialists King ran the rule over will be moving permanently to the County Ground.

Glory, glory Swindon Town

Get your water wings on, because now it's time to bathe in the glory of Town's 2-1 win on Saturday.

First up, there's enough detail in Jon Ritson's match report in tonight's Adver to bring the memories flooding back for those of us who were there, and give an inkling to those who are still staying away of what they missed. One point that stood out for me was that Alan Reeves had been up late to watch his baby daughter born. Quite a performance to turn in on the back of a sleepless night, although he admitted to the Adver later he was "drained and shaky" afterwards.

Andy King says his ambition is to be safe of relegation by the end of February. It might seem modest but, given our horrific slump earlier this season and the tight nature of this league I wouldn't complain if that's what he's going for. There's also mention, in the same story, of a rumoured bid from Preston for Sam Parkin. The story appeared in a newspaper yesterday, I'm told (although I didn't see it myself) and the figure mentioned was £250,000. I'm sure we're all pleased to see that being ruled out today.

Finally, interesting comments from goalscorers Danny Invincibile and Andy Gurney. Danny, first of all, basically says things are a bit happier for him now Eric Sabin's out the picture - fewer people up front, making things a bit simpler. And from Andy Gurney, the perfect note of hope to wrap things up this afternoon: "We know we are a good side and we are now showing it rather than just talking about it."

Swindon Town 2 Wigan Athletic 1

Spread the word: this was an afternoon to savour at the County Ground. Wigan, runaway second division leaders, came here only weeks after beating the Robins 2-0, but were sent packing with their first league defeat since August.

And let’s make no mistake about it: this wasn’t luck. They were beaten fair and square by a Town team full of hard work, roared on by a crowd clearly delighted to see a Town side play with such determination and team spirit.

This wasn’t one for the purists, despite bursts of excellent play, but it was a cracking match. With cooler heads and a dose of luck, Town could have finished this contest very comfortably indeed.

The opening spell was mostly played in Town’s half, but it was the reds who opening the scoring. In 24 minutes Danny Invincibile latched on to Andy Gurney’s ball in space in the right channel. He took a couple of steps towards goal before thumping the ball past John Filan, the Wigan keeper, from just inside the area.

The strike had the County Ground in raptures, but better was yet to come. Instead of sitting back on their lead, as we’ve seen so often in the past, Swindon appeared to step up a gear.

Dean Marney was superb in harrying and tackling, and others like Robinson and Hewlett started snapping away as well. Wigan just weren’t being allowed to play, were beginning to lose their discipline, and Town were looking good every time they got the ball.

It was a foul on the livewire Marney that led to Swindon’s second, ten minutes after the first goal. The youngster, on loan from Spurs for another month, was fouled on the right side and took the free kick himself. His cross was met by Sam Parkin in the back post area, and when the ball fell to Andy Gurney he seemed to have hours of time to send a cracking right-foot volley home.

If we’d thought we were happy before, the second send the County Ground wild. Wigan looked rattled by Swindon’s hard work and constant pressure, and there seemed little danger of them getting one back before half time. Town took a standing ovation as they left the pitch.

But the second 45 were a different matter. An onslaught from Paul Jewell’s side was always likely, and it duly came. Wigan served notice only four minutes after the restart when Gary Teale cracked a shot off the woodwork. And Town’s cause was not aided by Marney having to go off injured in the 50th minute, with Adam Willis coming on.

This change badly disrupted Town’s formation, and Athletic cashed in only four minutes later. Nicky Eaden crossed the ball in and Lee McCulloch appeared to have all the time and space in the world to pick his spot beyond Gremink with a fine header.

With Wigan back in it, we feared the worst, and at times it really was a case of grimly hanging on. Our back three turned into a back five, with the midfield three being completely over-run as Wigan swept forward again and again. Bart Gremink, although still not commanding his area as sometimes you might hope, pulled off some excellent catches to relieve the pressure.

Yet still Town were creating chances. Alan Reeves, who had another superb game, must have wished he could have done better when Danny Invincibile planted the ball on his head, and he could only put it wide. Stefani Miglioranzi came agonisingly close to adding to his Wednesday night goal with a long-range effort.

But the best opportunities fell to Danny Invincibile – how often is it that when Town play well, it coincides with the Australian also turning it on? On the 70th minute Danny raced through and smacked a long-ranger that beat the Athletic goalie, only for the ball to bounce off the right-hand post, bounce off the keeper’s back and then trickle, agonisingly, off the left-hand post and get cleared for a corner.

Town continued to dig in with Duke, Heywood and Reeves all outstanding – Heywood, in particular, took a knock to the head but was still winning header after header right to the end. In particular he did a great job keeping their principle danger man at set pieces – Canadian international and ex Dundee United defender Jason De Vos – quiet.

In the 89th minute, Danny could have sealed it all with a real peach. He gathered the ball on the left wing just inside the Wigan half on the break, danced past the challenges of the Wigan defenders and took the ball inside. But, on his right foot, he thumped the ball wide.

So it was back to the other end and some continued heroics from Gremink from a Teale shot before, with the ball being shepherded in a corner of the Wigan half, the ref blew the whistle on a quite superb contest.

For their 90 minutes of exceptionally hard work Town took three points and 11th place in the table. But, just as importantly, they took another standing ovation and (you hope) yet more belief in themselves.

This team took the biggest scalp they could in this league today: that, combined with a five-game unbeaten run since January 1, is really a superb achievement.

Swindon Town 1 Referee & Linos 1

Normally, in the cold light of the day after the night before, having a whinge about the referee in a match seems a bit pathetic.

Not today.

While some say football fans always get het up about refs, and these things balance themselves out over a season, last night’s display by Surrey referee David Crick and his assistants was nothing short of a disgrace.

In the space of 45 minutes, they combined to deny us a stonewall penalty, unjustly booked Danny Invincibile for cheating, denied another likely penalty and a clear infringement on the edge of the Blackpool box, and sprinkled in a series of smaller, yet still baffling, decisions for good measure.

This ranks up there among the worst officiating performances I have ever seen.

Worst of all, this detracts from a fine Town performance, especially in the latter stages of the first half, where we were all over Blackpool. We looked like the team chasing the playoffs, and had a few good chances to put it beyond the reach of Crick, McMahon, & Co.

If it wasn’t for a couple of quite superb saves from Phil Barnes in goal for Blackpool we could have been very comfortable by half time. In particular, a lovely chipped shot on the turn from Sam Parkin was netbound until Barnes flung himself up and to his right to get a solid hand to the ball, and turn it round for a corner.

Not to be outdone, Bart Gremink also pulled off a superb save close to half time when he got a hand to a powerful Richard Walker header.

Into the second half, Blackpool came out with their tails up. But we could have weathered the storm had the ref awarded a deserved penalty. Invincibile took the ball on the left flank, and with few options to pass decided to run at the ‘Pool back line. He darted into the box, right in front of the Town End, and Simon Grayson slid in. Grayson missed the ball, Invincibile went down, and... nothing. Danny was booked, and the visitors escaped.

Moments later, Danny was pushed to the ground again and, although the defender got the slightest of touches, it was still a foul in the box. Again, no penalty. We were holding our breath lest Crick send the Aussie off this time.

Instead, the seasiders went up the other end and scored. Ben Thornley tore down their left flank and - despite a possible foul on a Town player - play was waved on (surprise, surprise). His cross was converted at the back post by Scott Taylor.

Despite that gutting blow, Town pressed on, but had perhaps lost their rhythm thanks to Blackpool’s new-found strength, and the distraction of the referee’s blunders. Parkin should have earned a free kick on the edge of the box towards the end after he was fouled, but nothing was doing.

Frankly, we were amazed at the slightest decision going our way - especially the assistant on the Nationwide side was apparently oblivious to what was going on, and kept checking his watch as if he was expected elsewhere. The referee became the main focus of the game, and the full-time whistle was greeted with jeers for the men in black, and a round of applause for the team’s efforts. It wasn’t a great performance, but it was certainly enough that we should have won.

Today, Danny is understandably keen to clear his name having been branded a cheat by the ref, while Andy King also fumes about the decisions. The Adver, as ever, has a full match report with all the details.

Meanwhile, Juan Cobain has been paid off and will leave the club, which is good news for King as he looks to add a couple of faces to the squad.

Seasiders come south - again

I'm sure few will feel any sympathy for Steve McMahon's second trip to Town in as many weeks, although doubtless he'll moan about it if we manage to beat his Blackpool side tonight.

The omens have to look pretty good. Blackpool might be lying in a comparatively lofty eighth place, but their form has wavered a bit. Following a 4-0 thumping off Mansfield McMahon had a good moan about the attitudes of four players, telling them "they'd be lucky to find another club" if they didn't sign new deals (he's such a motivator!). But in a sounder bit of management, he brought in former Scottish international captain Colin Hendry on loan from Bolton to bolster things at the back. Hendry, at 37, might be a bit long in the tooth. But he has helped a great deal - in the four games he's played, 'Pool haven't lost.

Luckily, he's been injured recently, and may not make it back in time for tonight. From a spectator's point of view, it's a disappointment we won't see Sam Parkin up against the big centre-half, but it can only be good news with regards to picking up all three points. The BBC reports that there are a few other injury problems for McMahon too, just to help a little more.

Andy King has no such worries. Danny Invincibile is expected to start again up front alongside Sam, with Eric Sabin left on the bench to maybe do some damage later in the second half. Those of us who went up to Blackpool at the start of the season know there's not a great deal to worry about in this 'Pool side - if we play as well as we have of late, we should get a win.

A big gate would help. Here's hoping not too many people are tempted to stay in to watch the dubious delights of Blackburn v Man U in the Worthless Cup on Sky, and head down to the County Ground for some real action instead. A winning side deserves a decent turnout - and there's a good chance we'll all be entertained as well, not least by McMahon's touchline antics, and the Town End rappore he enjoys. Which is always nice.

Super Sam's a happy man

The feelgood factor continues today with the Adver zooming in on Sam Parkin. The frontman says he's very happy at the moment. He's got "one eye" on the division two golden boot (go for it, Sam - make up the eight goal lead Robert Earnshaw has on you and we'll all be happy) but is also just pleased to have arrived at a club he's happy at. "Finding the right club was vital in the summer," he tells the paper. "Sometimes you just know when everything feels right. Now we have to see if we can make the run-in an exciting one."

I'm sure he's meaning pushing for a play-off place, rather than the goals drying up and us plummeting down towards the drop zone which, let's face it, has been the only kind of "excitement" we've had at the County Ground in recent years.

We can't underestimate the importance of him being happy at the County Ground, though. There will be a few clubs this summer who maybe think they can pick up Sam on the cheap, given Town's precarious financial state. Hopefully the board would tell any chancers to bog off if they came in with a low bid. But I'm sure the club, and most fans, would admit the kind of multi-million pound figures being bandied about for Bobby Zamora last season would go a long way here.

Given the state much of football is in, big money bids (in the seven figure range) seem unlikely. But, anyway, if the player doesn't want to move nothing will happen. And, given we don't really have anyone near him in the scoring stakes, that's a good thing.

Speaking of Zamora, there's a star that's fallen...

He's had it worse

Following on from Saturday's humiliation at the hands of Swindon Town (and how good it feels to type those words) Carlton Palmer doesn't manage a particularly positive message to unhappy Stockport County fans today. He tells his local paper he's used to getting stick, and having endured 90,000 fans booing him at Wembley, he's not going to be too put off by a minority of supporters among a 4,000 crowd at Edgeley Park. Some of the King Out brigade might find this comment piece, about the array of "baffling" (read bad - very bad) decisions made by Palmer, makes them think twice about calling for our current manager's head.

Reeeeeves...

Don't forget to vote for Alan Reeves, who is currently hovering around first or second in the PFA division two player of the month award. Cast your vote - but be careful that, on the confirmation screen when you enter all your personal details, you scroll right down to the bottom of the page before hitting "submit". If you want to avoid spamming from the PFA, you'll need to click in the check box to opt out of their mailings - and the check box has cunningly been hidden at the foot of the page, which is very bad form. And I also made up all my personal details, as I see no reason why the PFA needs to know any more than my name and email addy... IMHO you should do the same.

Stockport County 2 Swindon Town 5

Town's faithful travelling support deserved this: a five-star mauling which rewarded them for some dreadful displays earlier this season. The victory left the town wondering where everything had started to go right, and more than a few fans wishing they had made the trip themselves.

I'm gutted to say I wasn't there, thanks to my dodgy knee, but hearing the surprise in Ed Hadwin's voice as goal after goal rattled in was a small consolation. You can feel the lighter touch in Jon Ritson's match report today as well. "Matty Hewlett and Steve Robinson finally scotched the rumours that they had given up goals for religious reasons as Town tore woeful Stockport County to shreds," he writes.

Some fans are suggesting, perhaps mischievously, that King might now be facing the manager of the month award for January, given he's managed two victories by a three goal margin, and a tough away point at Cardiff. Decent results against Blackpool and Wigan - by no means a certainty, of course - could seal it. Who else has managed such a turnaround in our division this month? I'd certainly applaud him, although it would be interesting to see if his friends in the Town End would join in.

Should Kingy win the award, of course, it will only serve to highlight what a disaster the club's PR "strategy" is. They could have backed King loudly and consistently during our losing streak, and now be smelling of roses as his side brings home the results. Or they could have sacked King, and likely as not a new manager would also be benefiting from the team's new-found form.

Instead, they attempted to back the manager while also working behind his back to bring in new candidates who, not surprisingly, took one look at the situation and ran. We're winning, climbing the table, and they still manage to turn out smelling bad. The crap being put up on the official website about the Supporters’ Trust doesn't help, either.

One thing is for sure, however. A winning side should bring the crowds back to the County Ground, as you've got to hope even those who can't stand King (or the board) will rise above that to come and support the side. A little more cash might mean the club can more easily balance its books, and that must - surely - lead to a rethink on ticket prices, and a little cash to strengthen the side. What price that a virtuous circle, rather than a destructive one, might be starting on the park this month?

Super Sam

Super Sammy Parkin has soared up one place in Soccer AM's goals per game table. He's now seventh in the race for the golden shoe and, with at least two front-runners likely to drop out because they're injured, further gains are likely. Southampton's James Beattie has replaced Alan Shearer as the only Premiership representative, in 10th place.

Righting wrongs, 'n' all that

We're off to Stockport this weekend, and that should ring alarm bells. Jon Ritson makes the connection in his column this week: anyone who saw the Stockport game at the County Ground in August will recall it with a shiver.

As Jon points out, we were all over County that day but failed to get past a back line inspired by player/manager Carlton Palmer, and they won 1-0. We went off on that terrible losing streak, and you have to wonder if the bad misses in front of goal - and brilliant saves as well - that autumn day hit our players hard. As I noted that night, "Town's players looked as though they'd lost a cup final".

I don't know if the players, travelling up today, will be getting fired up with notions of revenge or not. You'd hope the prospect of three points might motivate them enough. Stockport are one of those sides who are close by in the league - three points below us, to be exact - and a win would do very nicely indeed. Depending on results elsewhere, a victory would lift Town within touching distance of a big mid-table pack made up of seven teams, headed by Tranmere, none of which have much of a chance of getting a play-off place, but who all look relatively safe from relegation. Not that they are completely safe - at the moment, we're only five points away from the drop zone, which gives an idea of how tight this league is.

King expects to name the same side that did so well against Chesterfield two weeks ago, although Chris Taylor - a locally born lad who plays on the left of midfield - has been promoted to the senior team after performing well in the youth side's game at Spurs midweek.

Youth Cup: Tottenham 1 Swindon 0

By all accounts the lads showed the first team exactly how things should be done last night, with a battling performance at White Hart Lane which saw them concede the only goal right at the death.

The ugliest knee in all Wiltshire stopped me going down to the Lane with my Spurs-supporting mate to take the match in, and how I regret it now. The Robins had 10 Swindonians in the 16-man squad, according to today's Adver, and they combined spirit with no small measure of skill to hold their hosts until late on.

Now, we all know Andy King normally gives the impression of having attended the Alf Garnett school of motivation, but it's good to see him be completely unreserved in his praise of the side last night. Indeed, one of the team impressed him enough to get on the first team bus for this weekend's game.

Viv Busby was full of praise too, telling the Adver: "They sweated blood for Swindon Town. I told them it was a fantastic performance in which they gave everything. You cannot ask for any more than that." It's just a shame, as some of the posters over on MoS are reflecting, that they couldn't have got the game back to the County Ground for a replay. I'd have certainly hobbled along, and I'm sure there would have been plenty others too.

Still, well done to them for earning the praise last night despite losing. Platitudes are always trotted out about youth sides being the "future of clubs", when in reality we all know the number of players who fail to graduate from being a star 16-year-old to even a decent pro (let alone spectacular) is amazingly high. But at Swindon Town we really need some young stars to come through. They represent the best chance of getting the kind of player who can lift the side's fortunes, rather than simply maintain them (at best) as they are. And, praise be, our youth side gives us grounds for hope for the future this morning.

Hello again...

With apologies for not updating in a week and a half. Work took me far, far away from the County Ground - to a land where "football" involves constant handball and blokes with big helmets, where "world champions" play only other teams from that country, and where "beefburgers" actually contain beef. It's great to be back.

As if that wasn't enough, I'm now fresh back from a knee op after too many Ruddock-style "shmack him" slide tackles, so updating Swindonlog is all I've got to do for the next few days. Brace yourself for a frenzy of speculation, innuendo and rumour while I keep my feet up.

Swindon Town 3 Chesterfield 0

Here was a little winter warmer: a Town team that took on tricky opposition in sticky conditions, wore them down and ran out convincing winners. Add to that the first goal for Danny Invincibile since August, and the spice of a Reeves (Alan) versus Reeves (David) battle - which our own man won easily - and it was a promising first home game of the year.

Not that the first half hour of the match contained anything to suggest this was going to be much of a fun afternoon. Much of it was a dour battle for control on the heavy pitch - the biggest cheer (or was it a jokey jeer?) came for Stefani Miglioranzi's long range blast over the Town End roof. At least a steward managed to get the ball back, to help keep the bills down.

Maybe that spurred the New Yorker on, however, as he was eventually to find his feet - and help the whole team start to gel.

The breakthrough came just after the half-hour mark. Robinson crossed in from the right, and the hard-working David Duke (surely a contender for most improved player this season?) nodded back across goal. Sam Parkin was only a handful of yards out from goal, but was surrounded by defenders and had his back to the net. No worries: he executed a near perfect overhead kick to send the ball into the net, and Town into a one goal lead.

We should have added to that lead before half time. Alan Reeves send a header wide minutes after the goal, although he was to make up for that with a good tackle to keep out his brother after a Gremink howler of a clearance.

Into the second half, Chesterfield tried to pick up the game but Town started where they had left off. And the crushing goal came only minutes into the second period, after Miglioranzi had gathered the ball in the Chesterfield half. He poked a lovely little ball into the path of Invincibile, making a pacy run in off the left flank, and the Aussie controlled it before sending a low shot from a tight angle past Ben Williams. Danny slumped to his knees in front of the Stratton Bank and was mobbed by his team-mates, all clearly delighted at him breaking the unhappy run that has seen him struggle in front of goal since August.

To be honest, he could have had at least one more - especially when he met a Robinson cross perfectly on the volley. He was unfortunate to see his thundering shot go the wrong side of Williams left-hand post. Closer to goal later on, when Parkin set him up with a header, he should really have scored as well.

But it was fitting the final icing on the cake should be provided by Alan Reeves - a player who, as remarked upon in today's Adver, has had more than his share of stick at the County Ground. His brother had been substituted on the hour mark having been largely ineffective, to the delight of the Town End who asked Alan what the score was (he obliged) and "where's your brother gone?" (he pointed him out on the visitor's bench).

And five minutes from time Alan capped a fine performance by rising to meet Gurney's right-wing cross, sending a powerful header home before racing to celebrate in front of the Nationwide. He knows us fans can be fickle, but with more performances like his on Saturday - and, indeed, the whole team's showing - it would be hard for anyone to shout abuse.

The only shame was that just 4,500 turned up to watch, on a freezing cold day when there was plenty of football on TV. But I suspect there may be rather more for the traditionally emotional return of Steve McMahon to the County Ground, when Blackpool come visiting this Saturday.

You’ll find the Adver’s match report here.