Swindon - Bits n Pieces

Some ramblings from my sick bed on Tuesday's game ...

Following Tuesday evening's game against Charlton Danny Wilson revealed that he hadn't dropped keeper David Lucas - who had shipped ten goals in the three previous games.

According to Wilson - who kept his side in the dressing room for 45 minutes after the game - former Leeds stopper Lucas had been feeling lethargic by his own admission and so the club had taken blood tests and sent them of for analysis. On Tuesday they were still awaiting the results and so Phil Smith was asked to try and stop the Charlton tide.

Despite picking the ball out of the net three times, Smith - who had no chance with the goals - was big enough to face the media once Wilson had finished peeling the paint of off the dressing room walls.

Smith was pleased to have had some game time after spending much of the season warming the bench, but obviously disappointed with the result.

The fact that the club have recalled Michael Timlin from his loan spell at Southend shows how desperate Swindon are to inject a little experience into the side.

I can't help but feel that there is something going on at Swindon that we don't know about. Why a manager as experienced as Wilson has been left with so many youngsters at his disposal doesn't make sense. I'm starting to wonder if the board have lost faith in him or haven't released sufficient funds to support him.

The team is similar in many ways to the one that ended up at Wembley for the play-off final and so maybe they'll soon turn the corner. However, they have not replaced a key component of that team - Billy Paynter.

Two seasons ago Paynter acted as the foil to Simon Cox who scored goals for fun as Wilson dragged Swindon out of the relegation area to safety.

Last season Paynter got a hat full himself alongside new boy Charlie Austin before leaving on a 'free' to join Leeds and I think it's only now that Robins fans are starting to realise what a massive contribution he made to the team.

They may also be asking why he wasn't tied up on a longer deal and allowed to to for nowt.