Swindon Town’s Fine Start Gives Optimism to Fans
Us football fans are a fine and fickle bunch; we take the highs with the highs and the lows with the lows. Being a Swindon Town fan, you deal with this in an abundance, there has been more lows than highs in the last few years. But this start to the season in League Two has got us fans talking can we achieve the goal of promotion this season.
Coming out of the away end at Rodney Parade on Saturday afternoon in the first weekend in October there was a lot of joy and optimism. A gritty battling 1-0 away win at Newport County in a lunch time kick off took Swindon Town top of League Two for a few hours. Walsall reclaimed top spot after defeating Bristol Rovers 2-1 at home just a few hours later.
This has been a massive turnaround from the form and luck the club had last season. Mark Kennedy was sacked in October 2024 after a midweek defeat to Salford City 2-1. The club was 22nd in the league table and just picked up two wins in thirteen league games of the season. Ian Holloway came in. But disaster struck, Tuesday 03rd December 2024. Swindon Town travelled to Essex to take on Danny Cowley Colchester United side.
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Colchester United won the game 4-0 and condemned Swindon Town to ninety second out of ninety second in the football league. They were rock bottom of League Two and become a laughing stock. There was real belief that this team could be relegated out of the football league and be the second club after Oldham Athletic to have played in the Premier League and be relegated out of the football league.
That defeat to Colchester United on a cold December night proved to be the turning point. Under Ian Holloway, Swindon Town would win almost half of their remaining league games with thirteen out of the last twenty-seven and finished in twelfth place. Sixty-two points from forty-six games and finished twenty points clear from second bottom Carlisle United who were relegated along with Morecambe who finished rock bottom of the EFL. Morecambe actually did the double over Swindon Town last season.
A change of manager at the right time did the club good, we would have been sleepwalking to the National Vanarama league if we continued with Mark Kennedy. Ian Holloway came in and after a slow start added belief and tactical flexibility into the squad. Holloway switched from a 3-4-3 to a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 for the last part of the season and it worked.
He instilled this never say die attitude and you would see that Swindon Town would win games late on in dramatic circumstances with stoppage time winners. Two goals from now Crawley Town striker Kabongo Tshimanga on April Fools’ day to AFC Wimbledon would showcase this.
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Both goals came after the ninety minute and was from the penalty spot. Another showcase would be just thirteen days later against promotion chaser Bradford City at home. Swindon Town were 4-3 down into six minutes of stoppage time. They were 3-1 down at one point. Harry Smith would score a nineth minute header. Jack Sheppard on loan Bradford city defender would score a dramatic last minute own goal to give Swindon Town a 5-4 win.
There was excitement to Swindon Town football last season and us fans were hoping we got to see this for the up-and-coming season. fifteen new signings, two ACL injuries which has seen Ian Holloway come up with a different system and a way of playing which has propelled Swindon Town to second in the league.
The squad has more depth and playing in different competitions this season has helped Swindon Town going forward. So, with the signings, Tom Nichols who can play in midfield and in attack was signed on a free transfer from Mansfield. Nichols was on loan at the club for the second half of last season. Darren Oldaker signed on a free from Chesterfield. James Ball who promotion from AFC Wimbledon also joined on a free.
Lewis Ward back to SN1 for his third stint back in Swindon as the backup goalkeeper. Joe Snowdon who was highly rated at Leeds United joined on a free transfer. Filozofe Mabete joined from Wolves also on a free transfer. Billy Bodin returning back to Swindon Town after thirteen years away. Finley Munroe can play left wing back and centre back joined on loan from Aston Villa. Tom Wilson-Brown joined on loan from Leicester City.
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Ollie Palmer added more depth to the striker position and joined on a free transfer from Wrexham. Adam Murphy and Jamie Knight-Lebel joined on loan both from Bristol City. Murphy to add depth into the midfield and the same with Knight-Lebel in defence. Ryan Tafazolli joined on a free transfer from Wycombe and added experience to the defence. Two young attackers joined in Jake Tabor who was scoring goals for fun in non-league for Amersham Town, signed. Princewell Ebhibhatiomhan came in on loan from Championship side Southampton.
There is more depth in the squad now with the fifteen incomings, Paul Glatzel, Aaron Drinan, Conor Ripley, and Joel McGregor all signed contract extensions in the summer. The squad was building up nicely. Botan Ameen academy graduate at Swindon Town was the major departure of the summer he joined Championship side Norwich City U21 side for a reported fee of £250,000.
The Robins had a shaky start to the League Two campaign with a dramatic last-minute defeat to Walsall. Connor Barrett run horribly exposed Swindon high attacking defensive line as they were pushing for a winner and he calmly slotted home to give Walsall a dramatic 2-1 home win on the opening day of the season. A week later Swindon Town managed to pick up there first win of the season in a five-goal thriller against Cambridge United.
Swindon Town won 3-2 thanks to goals from Aaron Drinan, Harry Smith, and Darren Oldaker. Pre-kick off Harry Smith was had bids from Cambridge United rejected. EFL Cup defeat followed away at Cardiff who got relegated to League One. Cardiff City raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Cian Ashford and a glorious free kick from Rubin Colwill. Princewell Ebhibhatiomhan scored on his debut for Swindon Town.
A league away win in the first of a few Saturday lunch time kick offs, Swindon Town travelled to newly promoted Oldham Athletic and came away with a 2-1 win, Joe Snowdon and Tom Nichols with the goals to give Swindon a second win out of three league games to start the season. Then came the turning point in the season. A 2-0 home defeat to Barnet and it was overshadowed by an ACL injury to target man striker Harry Smith, who Danish side AC Horsens had a €320,000 bid rejected for.
To make matters worse, Smith is entering the final year of his contract. The news was broke the day before the Oldham game and just a few days later he picked up a horrible ACL injury at home to Barnet. Harrison Minturn also picked up an ACL injury while playing on loan at National league South side Chippenham Town. The young defender just went out on loan for game time as he recovered from a Groin Injury that kept him out since December 2024.
With the injury to talisman Harry Smith, Ian Holloway had to adapt and change the way Swindon Town played. Smith would be the target man and Swindon would look to utilise Harry Smith strengths. But a change of tactics and a more dynamic way of playing have helped Swindon Town to the top two.
A switch to a 3-4-1-2 with either Billy Bodin, Darren Oldaker in behind the two strikers of Paul Glatzel and it has worked. Billy Bodin scored a dramatic injury time winner at home to Shrewsbury. A week later Swindon Town travelled to Crewe Alexandra, a game I was at, and it was a 12.30pm lunch time kick off. Swindon Town played Crewe off the park and were 3-0 up at half time and won the game 3-0. Gavin Kilkenny, Paul Glatzel and Aaron Drinan with the goals.
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When the September international break was on, Swindon Town travelled to Barrow and came away with a 3-1 away win. A third win in the league and forth in all competitions, as in the midweek before the Barrow game, Swindon Town entertained Reading in the Vertu trophy, Swindon Town prevailed 3-2. Ollie Palmer with his first goal for the club.
The swashbuckling football we saw in previous weeks had to be put on the back burner for the home game against Harrogate Town. Simon Weaver side make it hard for the opposition as they are a stubborn side to play against. Jack Muldoon gave Harrogate the lead before Swindon Town captain Ollie Clarke headed home just before half time. Swindon Town had to be thankful for in form striker Aaron Drinan with two second half goals to give Swindon Town the win and took them top of League Two.
A week later in the Manchester rain was a bump back to earth and a reality check as Salford City and an old foe in Karl Robinson got the better of Swindon Town. Salford City cruised to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jorge Grant and Kadeem Harris, Swindon pulled level in the second half thanks to goals from Aaron Drinan and Jaime Knight-Lebel. But in stoppage time, Will Wright dwindled on the ball in the corner flag and has his pocket picked. Salford City capitalised and Kallum Cesay netted a dramatic injury time winner.
But after the Salford City result, Swindon Town have bounced back with two wins from two, first with a 2-0 home win over Bromley. Ollie Palmer and Aaron Drinan with the goals. Last Saturday in storm Amy, Swindon Town went over the M4 bridge to take on Newport County, a scrappy game in horrible windy conditions.
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I was behind the goal and the weather wasn’t pretty nor was the football. Ollie Palmer goal in the first half was the winner and for a few hours took the Robins to the top of League Two. Before the Swindon Town home game against Bromley, Ian Holloway showed Coach Carter to the players, and it has been pivotal with two wins from the next two games.
We have to wait until October 18th for Swindon Town next game as their game against Notts County this coming weekend has been called off due to international calls up for Notts County. They play Accrington Stanley away next and then just three days later is the re-scheduled Notts County home game. In my wildness dreams after the slow start to the season and with a key player picking up a horrible ACL injury.
I have been pleasantly surprised in Swindon Town turnaround on the pitch. Eight wins from the first eleven games of the season is a good tonic to start the season. Gives the club something special to kick on and gives the fanbase something to dream about in early May in potentially a promotion party back to League One.
By: Scot Munroe / @scot_munroe
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / NurPhoto