Town fan Nick Judd reflects on a pair of frustrating away trips...
The late shows...
Some teams are just good at closing games out, Swindon Town are not one of them.
The beads of sweat weâÂÂve poured in watching Town trying to defend slender leads could fill the Caspian sea, and Tuesday nightâÂÂs draw at Millwall was another example.
A point away at a top-six side though, like SaturdayâÂÂs at pace-setters Leicester, is not to be sniffed at and weâÂÂre now looking more like a team challenging at the top than one looking over our shoulder at the bottom.
Wilson cusses two points dropped at Leicester...
Still, it didnâÂÂt prevent me from feeling pig sick (and guarding my valuables) leaving the New Den. This was the second time a last-gasp equaliser had prevented the Robins from a relegation-busting away win in four days, the fourth time this season. This is how Bill Murray must have felt on Groundhog Day, and IâÂÂve been weary of putting my foot in an icy puddle all morning!
On Saturday, Leicester deserved a share of the spoils for laying siege to our goal in the gameâÂÂs dying embers. But Millwall got lucky. The stats will tell you they had the lions share of the ball, but theyâÂÂll also tell you they only had two tangible efforts on goal.
No wonder they've got one of the lowest home goal tallies in the division. Maybe MillwallâÂÂs stay-away fans knew something we didnâÂÂt!
I couldnâÂÂt see Millwall coming back, and even when the fourth official held up four minutes of injury time, they had done little to suggest weâÂÂd have our head in our hands. Our defence looked resilient, which is arguably Danny WilsonâÂÂs greatest triumph so far as Town boss, while Peter Brezovan - back to his imperious best - was swatting chances away like annoying mosquitoes.
Wilson admitted it needed something special to breach our back line, and the goal that saved Kenny JackettâÂÂs blushes was a contender for strike of the season: James Henry unleashing a 30-yard blockbuster into the top corner.
...and two more at Millwall
Only Swansea City and Morecambe have drawn more games than us, and if matches lasted 85 minutes weâÂÂd have another nine points on the board which, considering our current form, wouldnâÂÂt rule us out of nicking a play-off place.
Millwall, Leicester, Hartlepool (cheers Danny Wilson!), Bristol Rovers, Walsall and Peterborough have all punished us late on, while weâÂÂve sneaked the odd late goal ourselves. Either way, maybe our fans should whistle a bit louder, or the players should work on not getting injured to prevent time being added on.
Wilson's a winner...
Danny Wilson has been an excellent appointment at the County Ground so far. Erudite, forthright and determined, heâÂÂs instilled confidence and belief.
Players that were under-performing are now doing their bit, while some are even being played out of position and looking like world-beaters. And then thereâÂÂs his delves in the loan market: Hal Robson-Kanu has impressed while Gordon Greer has been such an exciting find those bods on Time Team couldnâÂÂt do better. Sign him up Danny!
Well done Sam...
Congratulations to Super Sammy Parkin and Luton Town for making it to Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.
SamâÂÂs endured tough times since leaving us and few fans deserve an afternoon in the sun more than the Hattersâ faithful.
Super Sam (L) and Luton: Wembley-bound
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