Swindon Town 1v Charlton Athletic 1

I didn't get to follow much of the game what with two rugby 6 Nations matches and a run to cram in before getting ready for an evening out with friends who are staying. What I did hear sounded like one-way traffic in our direction and it was no surprise to see us go behind in the second-half. The shock was that Nicky Bailey scored a last-gasp equaliser to secure the result I predicted more in hope than belief.


Parkinson tinkered with the squad and the playing formation again yesterday, purportedly playing a 4-2-3-1, although it's hard to fathom why when it sounded like a rearguard action for most of the game and a smash and grab at the end. I also don't see the point in dropping players for only one match when the replacement plays well enough only to be shuffled out again a la Chris Solly. Perhaps Parky's looking to keep everyone happy or trying to get an extra 10% out of some players in a bid to make the difference. Either way it doesn't appear to be working. Draws are relegation form and the pack are closing in.


It was a valuable point nonetheless, I hadn't realised that Swindon have three games in hand and are only eight points behind. A nice enough gap but if they had reduced it to five yesterday we would be looking vulnerable. Colchester can catch us now if they win their two games in hand (Southend at home on Monday) and Millwall can get within five with us yet to go to the New Den. Looking back to Huddersfield in seventh, they are 11 points short of us but have three in hand. Games in hand won't all be converted to points, so we should still maintain our lead over the chasers but we have to start winning again and soon. 


I am off to Edinburgh this morning to see my beloved Scotland take on the French in what promises to be a mighty battle. Our annual hopes of turning the corner hang on this opening game. Win it and we can travel to Wales and then Italy with high hopes. Lose and thoughts of avoiding the Wooden Spoon will once again be uppermost in the mind. As much as team selection and tactics are important, it's the weather that might hold the key to the game. The colder and wetter the better for us and sleet is forecast, which will do just fine for me. 


For once the talk is not of a potentially dominating Scottish pack but of some pace and promise in the backs. I expect the forwards to hold the French and give them a hard time but it would be nice to see Scotland scoring other than from the boot of the metronomic Chris Paterson. Time to deliver and I can't wait.