As there were no matches locally to enjoy on Saturday it was an opportunity to take stock of where we are with Swindon Town, now that the hurly burly of the transfer window is complete, Peter Mitchell.

Altogether there were eight new additions, but the only leavers were several youngsters going out on loan, to give them more game time and experience. So, from chairman Lee Power’s perspective, his overall payroll costs will have increased somewhat.

Apparently Marc Richards was offered an opportunity at his old club Port Vale on deadline day, but this move fell through because of timing issues.

In come new loanees – Ali Koiki, Canice Carroll, Kyle Bennett and much travelled striker, Theo Robinson. New permanent signings were Tom Broadbent, Danny Rose, Cameron McGilp and Taylor Curran. However, 18 year-old defender Curran is unlikely to figure in any first team plans for the immediate future. Sid Nelson could have made a return as a loan player, but manager Richie Wellens decided not to use one of his loan cards to gain another central defender. Sid has now moved to promotion chasing Tranmere Rovers.

Swindon cannot afford to be complacent. They sit just below mid-table – they are 10 points off the play-off places and 13 points off a relegation spot.

This means that in effect they need to gain at least 4 more wins than some of those teams currently in the four play-off spots, in order to creep into the end of season show down. I can’t really see that happening as it would mean a very significant improvement in their home form, which at the moment seems a long way off. Once again, their goal difference, which could prove crucial, is way off the mark.

For them to have any chance they need to keep their central defenders injury-free; get Woolery and Anderson to deliver a lot more than they have to date; and work out a successful striking partnership, using a combination of Richards, House, Twine and Robinson. They have enough midfielders to almost field a team on their own, but can the manager find – and then keep – the right mix and balance ? Playing pressing, quick football – with TWO front men down the middle – is paramount.

Swindon now face two challenging away games as they visit MK Dons and Newport County. Their form on the road has been good, yielding 22 of their 40 points, so they shouldn’t lack confidence to get results away from the County Ground.