Reaction from the Swindon Town fan

By Nathan Jackson
March 26 2007

After interviewing with this site last week, Nathan Norris returns to give us his opinions on Sunday lunchtime's game. Having been less than convinced about his own side leading into the game, we will now find out if his opinion has changed about his own club and Lincoln City.

Firstly, did you enjoy your trip to Lincoln?

Yep. Was quicker than I thought and the Lincoln fans I met before the game were incredibly friendly and helpful. The atmosphere inside the ground was good and we enjoyed some good banter with the Lincoln fans next to us. The 3 points helped! I'd go again.


What did you think to Sincil Bank in terms of quality and the atmosphere from the City fans?

They were quite good when they got going. It would be nice if the drummer played something different to the teddy bears picnic. The stand we were in was very nice, but the rest of the ground leaves a lot to be desired really, bar the Stacey West stand which isn't a bad little stand. Reminded me of the County Ground a little bit, if the stand opposite us was finished the ground would look a lot better.

Before the match you were incredibly lacking in confidence for your team, has this game caused you to be more optimistic about the rest of the season?

I was lacking in confidence because we couldn't score goals! Corr & Jutkiewicz looked excellent together considering it's the first game they've played as a strike partnership. Hopefully this win (which was a superb win for us!) will spur us on. Our defending is still concerning though I must admit. In general I am more optimistic after the win though.

Was that the worst defensive display you've seen from a home side this season?

Surprisingly, no!


Who do you think was Swindon's MOTM?

Lee Peacock for me. Played excellent in the centre of midfield and even chipped in with a goal! Barry Corr ran him close though.

Which Lincoln players, if any, impressed you?

Stallard's a natural born goal poacher, it's hard to find those. His play was OK, and he looked overweight but if you can finish like that I guess that doesn't really matter. Mendes was a handful for Ifil but his finishing was poor. Apart from those two no one stood out.

Do you think that Sunday saw a team heading for automatic promotion facing a team that seem destined for the playoffs?

Such a difficult question answer really. MK Dons drawing has given you a chance, but if your defending doesn't improve I can't see you going up automatically. Forrester and Stallard could well fire you up there though. As for us, we should be in the top 3 but we've lacked that goalscoring edge.. If we've now found it I'd imagine we'll go up in the top 3 but I'm not holding my breath. Maybe it was a play-off final dress rehearsal?

Do you think that Lincoln made a mistake by leaving 2 of their 3 best players on the bench?

Who are these then?! Well if they are your best players they should be starting so yes, but I'm not complaining.

With a game in hand against teams in the automatic promotion, do you think that Swindon can go on to win automatic promotion comfortably if you dominate long spells of the game like you did at Sincil Bank.

If we play like we did for the majority of the game at Sincil Bank then yes I do. We won't, though.

Do you think Lincoln are still capable of winning automatic promotion from what you've seen this season, if not then how do you reckon we'll do in the playoffs (should we make them)?

Anything can happen in the games remaining. You've given yourself a lot to do, but don't rule it out just yet. If you make the playoffs, depending on who finishes 4th/5th, I think the goals from Stallard and Forrester may well see you win them this time.

MK Dons wasted a great opportunity to maintain their 3 point lead over 4th place, they now have an extremely difficult run in, could this work heavily against them?

No, the refs will still work in their favour and they'll use their general diving and bully boy tactics employed by their wonderful manager Martin Allen to gain an unfair advantage. I hope it does anyway, MK don't deserve anything.

Walsall also wasted a great chance to pretty much cement their place in the Top 3 for the remainder of the season, given their general recent form and the fact that they could be out of the top 3 next weekend, do you think that they will fall out of the Top 3 and end up in the Playoffs

Nope, they seem to have enough in their locker to guarantee an auto promotion place.


If Swindon finished in the playoffs, who would you prefer to face in the semis, and who would you prefer not to face?

Wycombe aren't great, but after getting 4 points from them you know they'll beat us. If Darlington make it, I'd love to face them. Only team I really wouldn't want to face is Lincoln.


If you did go up, how do you think Swindon would do next season?

Fine, mid-table finish. Sturrock is a decent manager and will have pre-season to get his own squad. When we've played League One opposition this season we've been comfortable.

Same Question as above but about Lincoln

You'd struggle, especially if you don't bolster the defence. You get punished more in League One for mistakes. I don't think Stallard and Forrester will be as effective either. Never know though.

Finally, how much did you piss yourself when you saw that Stockport had lost 7-2 at home?

I lost most of my body fluid. Can't laugh too much though, we've got Rochdale next week.