When the team was read out last night at Swindon my heart sank - one up front again - another Colchester, or so I thought.

But this was so much different with Brandon having a free role and supporting Abbott. We were by far the better team, bossed it in midfield and passed it about well. In my opinion Fowler made a big difference and it was good to see Sodje back, although he did nothing spectacular (listening to Radio Swindon after the game, one of their supporters said that Swindon should sign him up!). Clarke had a good game again (his long ball up front to Brandon (who left Jenkins for dead!) led to the first well-taken goal by Pav (joint leading scorer of League 1 again). Town's second goal was a mistake by Ifil but Brandon did exceptionally well to score from that angle. Brandon was absolutely immense last night and MOTM by a mile. We were all worried when Ifil sent him crashing through the advertising hoardings as he looked badly injured but luckily, after treatment, he was OK. Ifil had a match he won't forget in a hurry! There had been a bit of a niggle between him and Pav and then he headbutted him and the ref had no alternative but to send him off.

On the Fowler incident, it was the linesman who got him sent off as I don't think the ref saw what had happened. It was at the opposite side to where we were sitting and we couldn't see what really happened but I have seen it since on Sky Sports News (at about 3.15 am this morning when I got home!)and Fowler seemed to slip (talking about slipping at times you'd think the players were on ice the number of times players lost their footing) and went two-footed into their man but he did get some of the ball (Town are going to decide later today whether to appeal or not). The Swindon fans, of course, were chanting "Off, off!" and the referee, after consultation with the lineman, duly obliged, but I think a booking would have been sufficient - I don't think there was any malice in the challenge. Then, after we had looked comfortable all the match and in no danger of relinquishing three points, Swindon scored and we were left anxiously looking at our watches during the four minutes time added on. We deserved the three points though and, as I said before, Brandon was superb.

There were about 300 Town fans in the very poor crowd of about 4,800 - why don't they bring their prices down????

By Chris Eastwood from the HTFC Mailing list.