LAWRENCE VIGOUROUX, a penny for your thoughts.

The build-up to Swindon Town’s home game with Colchester on Saturday began with the Liverpool loanee, who has done so well since joining the club as first choice goalie this season, being dropped over an ‘internal disciplinary’ matter.

Town’s blackout on most local media outlets means that we are indebted to the Daily Mail online for informing us that not only was Vigouroux fined £50 for missing training – and we presume more than one session – but that he paid his fine in bank bags full of copper.

Town boss Mark Cooper did not see the funny side of this and a miffed Vigouroux was ‘recalled’ to Anfield.

With young Ty Belford between the sticks Swindon Town dropped to 17th in League One on Saturday and on the evidence of their third defeat in a row – 2-1 to a distinctly ordinary Colchester side – they may be looking down rather than up for some while yet.

Of course, it is going to be tough when you lose the core – Luongo, Gladwin and Byrne – of arguably the most exciting midfield in League One last season. Captain Nathan Thompson is struggling with a groin problem and is sidelined again and another key Liverpool loanee, Kevin Stewart, has gone back to Anfield, in his case for injury rehab.

The Colchester game gave me a first opportunity to see some of the deadline day signings that excited fans – though still no sight (even on the bench) of the much-heralded Irish League player Jordan Stewart.

We did have the new strike partnership of Wes Thomas and Nicky Ajose and there were promising signs of an early understanding between the two, with Thomas netting a first-half goal.

But before the half-hour mark he was gone. He went on one of those Michael Smith-like, 30-yard lost-cause sprints closing down a defender, and pulled his hamstring. Now the only proper No.9 at the club is out for up to eight weeks.

On losing his partner Ajose rather drifted out of the game, before missing a second-half sitter set up by afro-haired sub Jeremy Balmy’s first touch.

Estonian international Henrik Ojamaa saw a lot of the ball at right wing back but failed to track his runner for Colchester’s first goal, skied the best chance of the match over the bar, and repeatedly did not get his crosses past the first defender.

On the other flank, played out of position, Fabien Robert looked a lost soul.

Thank goodness we still have Yaser Kasim. Most of what was good emanated from him, including the defence splitting pass for the Ojamaa chance. But soon after Kasim was berated by the manager for not tracking back in the second half, he was taken off – and headed straight down the tunnel.

Centre back Jordan Williams edged the man of the match award in a contest which had few contenders.

In fact, one sad memory of the game was the sight of Williams breaking forward into the U’s half and not one other Swindon player busting a gut to go and help him.

A week in the life of Swindon Town ended with a stoppage-time equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Doncaster. Vigouroux was spotted in the stands at the Keepmoat Stadium having apparently apologised to management and fellow Swindon players – so Coppergate could be over and the status quo restored.

Apart from one hilarious twist. Want-away Blackpool striker Nile Ranger, who missed more training sessions in his time at Town than Vigouroux has taken crosses, is offering his services as a replacement for Wes Thomas.

What chance would Nile have of finding the out-of-town Beversbrook training ground?