COLCHESTER UNITED 0

SWINDON TOWN 0

Phil Brown made five changes for the last away game against Colchester United. Swindon’s starting line-up was a strange mixture of existing loan players, who you would assume won’t be with the club next season, and several players who most supporters would hope will be elsewhere come August, writes Peter Mitchell.

It appears that, of the starters, only James Dunne, Marc Richards and Keshi Anderson have contracts for next year.

The first half was, as anticipated, totally underwhelming and the fact that the noise from the players and from the benches outdid the crowd summed things up. Apart from Stuart Moore making an excellent finger-tip save in the last minute to deny Drey Wright there was very little worth talking about.

The 295 Town Supporters who made a long trip for a “nothing game” all deserve nominations for “Fan of the Season”.

Colchester shaded both possession and chances in the second half but it didn’t do a lot to relieve the prolonged boredom. Thankfully though, most of the visitors were woken from their slumbers in good time to catch their buses back to Wiltshire.

There was certainly nothing in this game to make you think Swindon really deserved to finish higher than their likely half way position for the season.

Just one more to go and then we can all have a deserved rest. Newly-crowned Champions Accrington Stanley will bring the League Two trophy to Swindon next week for the final game, and I fully expect to see a competent, well-organised side, but one that will emphasise opportunities missed for ourselves.

Interesting situation regarding goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook, who did nothing wrong at all when playing against Grimsby last week and yet it appears he was dropped in favour of Moore.

Young right-back Kyle Knoyle has been one of the bright spots this season and most people would be quite happy to see him given a new contract in the summer. Of course the big coup for the club would be if they could work out a deal for Matt Taylor to return for another year.

There would have been plenty of wry smiles on Town supporters’ faces with the news that Mansfield’s latest result means David Flitcroft’s team can only reach the play-offs on goal difference. Since his appointment he has managed just two wins in twelve attempts.

At least he can now look forward to a “warm” welcome if he visits the County Ground next season – assuming he is still with the Stags.