“MY players did not appear to realise it was a derby game. I asked in the dressing room afterwards which of them thought they had won their individual battles – and not one arm was raised.”

The words came from Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton after his side were soundly beaten 3-1 by Swindon in front of a bumper 8,500 on Monday and he went on to add: “Swindon ‘wanted it more and showed more passion and aggression.”

That was typified by the way Billy Paynter mugged Yeovil left back Nathan Smith on the touchline which led to Charlie Austin’s seventh goal in as many games.

Duff chip apart late on, Paynter was excellent, for once outshining his strike partner, but it is the former non league youngster who continues to grab the headlines.

Chairman Andrew Fitton tells an interesting tale about Austin. Fitton was refereeing a game in which Charlie played for Hungerford. The striker scored three goals but the chairman particularly remembers what a handful he was to referee.

Now Fitton is having to dish out cash bonuses rather than verbal warnings as he revealed Austin is on incentive payments which are triggered by blocks of goals.

Talking of milestones, manager Danny Wilson hits the age of 50 on New Year’s Day and celebrated his first anniversary in charge of Town over Christmas.

His stats make pleasant reading. Wilson’s side has lost just once (over 90 minutes) in the last 11 matches and his success rate percentage (courtesy the excellent swindon-town-fc.co.uk website) is better than that of Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles and just behind the likes of Dennis Wise, Paul Sturrock and Lou Macari.

Of course, stats don’t tell the whole truth. Town Flier has seen 13 Swindon Town games this season and witnessed just one defeat in normal time. Yet they have played poorly in seven of those matches.

You cannot argue about the consistent results; this fan, however, would now like to see more consistent performances and entertainment.

The inability to kill off teams while shipping late goals was raised again in the post-match radio interview with Wilson after the Boxing Day 2-2 draw with Charlton – and perhaps for the first time in front of a microphone as Town boss, his hackles were raised.

But Wilson cannot deny the legitimacy of the question and fans’ frustration when they were undone by nine men of the Addicks in the 94th minute after a hopeful 50-yard punt over the top.

Where the manager did get it absolutely right was to keep his own counsel about the future of the loan signings until everyone has enjoyed their day in the sun at Fulham next week in the FA Cup.

It is a shame for Austin that he is Cup-tied and there must be a case for the FA not to be so dogmatic about player registration when they have only played in the preliminary rounds of the competition. Austin played three times for Poole, being knocked out in the first qualifying round -- four rounds before the first round proper.

I guess that Danny Ward will play up front with Paynter at Craven Cottage in the now-regular 4-4-2, although I do still hanker after a 4-5-1 formation, with Ward and Macklin used as wide men.

Then it is the January transfer window where we can hope for an injection of PACE – the one essential element to our offensive threat that is lacking at the moment.