Swindon Town

Jenkins hoping luck will change
Defender Steve Jenkins feels that Swindon just need a slice of luck to end a run of four consecutive losses. "The defeats have all been by the odd goal, and we could have easily nicked something in the three away games," the 33-year-old told Sir Stanley. "We've played all right in the last four games and there's a good spirit, we're positive, but we're just not getting the rub of the green. "The performances have been good, but we just haven't had the luck." The Robins slipped to 22nd place in League One after losing 2-1 at Bournemouth on Saturday - with a turning point coming when Tony Thorpe missed from the spot with 20 minutes remaining. "They had a bit of possession after we went down to 10 men, but even then, I thought we looked more threatening, and we had a lot of opportunities in the final third," Jenkins said. "If the penalty had gone in, I think there would have only been one winner as we had the momentum. "But we missed it - Thorpey was brave enough to take it, but it was a good save by their keeper. "It gave them a big lift, as by the end they were hanging on and we were pressing. "But sometimes there's nothing you can do on the training ground, or before the game in your preparation - you just need that bit of luck, and it's something we've just not had." The Wales international did banish one unwanted statistic by scoring Town's equaliser just before the interval - an estimated 721 minutes after their last away goal. Andy King's men had not netted away from the County Ground since 25 March, but Jenkins insisted: "You don't even think about the away goal thing. "At the end of the day, it's just another game you want to win." Meanwhile, manager King has insisted that he will not "walk away" from the task of lifting the Wiltshire side up the league. "I've been here a long time and I know you have to win football matches," he said. "I know I am a good manager - but it's not my choice. I have a contract, and if Swindon choose to terminate it, it's up to Swindon. "All I know is that if I do leave this club, it's in a better state than I found it. "The crowd have been tremendous today. They have been totally supportive throughout the game, and that's what I asked for - there was no negative sentiment at all. "I'll keep trying - I'll start again on Monday with a smile on my face."

King out to continue Swindon role
Swindon Town boss Andy King believes he is still the best man to lead the Robins, even though they are third from bottom in League One. King told Sir Stanley: "I believe in me and I don't believe there is anyone better. "If the poor run continues and we find ourselves at the bottom of the table then there is a decision to be made by the people above. "But if we get the win that I feel is round the corner things can change."

Gurney return delayed by FA ban
Swindon defender Andy Gurney's return to action has been delayed after he was found guilty of improper conduct by the Football Association. Gurney, on loan from Swansea, was sent off by referee Barry Knight in the 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth on 17 September. But he was then charged with failing to leave the field of play promptly, and using abusive and/or insulting language towards the referee. Gurney was fined £750 and is now serving a three-match suspension. The first of those games was Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by Doncaster - so he will also sit out Swindon's games with Milton Keynes Dons (1 October) and Port Vale (8 October).

Onuora has high hopes for Swindon
Swindon caretaker manager Iffy Onuora is confident the Robins can climb out of the League One relegation zone and earn him the job permanently. Onuora, 38, took charge following the dismissal of Andy King told and toldSir Stanley: "The board have backed me and they want me to do the job. "They have given me their full support. Until I'm told anything different, I will carry on implementing my ideas. "If we keep playing like last Saturday we will get out of trouble." Swindon lost 2-1 at home to Port Vale on Saturday but, having watched a video of the game again on Tuesday, Onuora is convinced that with a big more quality up front his team will start picking up points. "I am trying to keep everyone's spirits up, keep them positive and make them realise that if we keep playing like that we will get out of trouble," said Onuora. "I have talked about belief, but you need the proof of that and that comes through performances and results. "Perhaps we need a little bit of firepower in the last third." Rory Fallon has scored seven league goals for the Robins but his tally stands alone. "Rory aside, we have struggled we have struggled for goals - that is something we aware and trying to address," added Onuora, who started his career with the British Universities before moving into the professional game. "We need to gamble a little bit more in the last third and make sure our final ball is a little crisper. "It is the little things really. We need a little break and that is what it is like when you play up front. "I played most of my career there and know what it's like when things don't fall for you, but as soon as get that back we will be okay." Onuora has signed Hameur Bouazza on loan to boost his options. "We have brought in Hameur from Watford," he said. "He is versatile and gives us some pace up front. He can play out wide as well." Onuora himself was a striker, who made more than 350 appearances in a career that took him to eight league clubs before he retired two years ago. He had four months as first-team coach under Paul Merson at Walsall and accepted the position of youth development manager with Swindon a year ago. During his time at the County Ground, the club has constantly battled financial problems. On Tuesday vice-chairman Mark Devlin urged the club's fans not to panic after Swindon was served with a winding-up order. And Onuora maintains the off-field problems have not affected his players. "It always seems to have been like this, there seems to have been this sort of backdrop at the club for a while," said Onuora. "But it is not as though the players sit around before training talking about the Inland Revenue or unpaid bills. "They concentrate on the football side of things - even from my point of view, I'm able to switch that off quite easily."

Swansea secure Swindon's Fallon
Swansea City have signed striker Rory Fallon from League One rivals Swindon for a fee in the region of £300,000. The 23-year-old, 6ft 2in Kiwi agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal after completing a medical on Wednesday. The targetman baulked on a Swans move earlier this season, but now joins Lee Trundle, Leon Knight, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Paul Connor on their striking rota. The move will fuel speculation on Trundle's future, with Portsmouth watching the star striker on Tuesday. Trundle is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract at the Liberty Stadium, but he has yet to sign and rumours of Premiership interest are legion. Fallon, the son of former New Zealand national coach Kevin, joined Swindon from Barnsley for £50,000 in November 2003, following previous spells with Shrewsbury and Yeovil. He scored 21 goals in 75 league appearances for Swindon, but would have been out of contract in the summer. "We have been working hard for the last two-to-three weeks to bring Rory to Swansea," club chairman Huw Jenkins told the Swansea website. "We are absolutely delighted to finally add another quality striker to our squad. "I feel we've made some great signings in the last couple of weeks which will give the squad the strength-in-depth it needs to push hard for an automatic promotion place." FAW Premier Cup It has been confirmed that Swansea's FAW Premier Cup semi-final at Carmarthen will be on Wednesday, 8 February (1800 GMT).

Swindon send Lapham out on loan
Swindon defender Kyle Lapham has joined Southern Premier Division side Cirencester Town on a month's loan. The 20-year-old was voted as the Robins youth team's player of the season for 2004/05, and made two first-team starts towards the end of the campaign. He was then handed a one-year professional contract, but has not featured in the first team this term. Ironically, he missed the start of the season with an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season game at Cirencester.

Onuora is keen to maintain focus
Swindon boss Iffy Onuora has told his squad they cannot rest on their laurels after moving out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against Gillingham. The Robins have surged four places to 16th in League One, but host fellow strugglers Rotherham on Saturday. "I'm pleased with the position. But the reality says we have to do it all again," said Onuora. "Rotherham will be another tough game. We'll sit down and go through this win before starting again."

Onuora is determined to turn tide
Swindon manager Iffy Onuora wants a positive response from his team this week, following Saturday's 7-1 hammering at Nottingham Forest. "I have to believe we can stay in this division," Onuora said. "But we have to rectify the problem, as there were 11 individual battles out there and we probably lost every one. "The thing that counts is what we do now. The players will tell me what I want to hear, but I am not interested in that. What we need is action."

Yeovil 0-0 Swindon
Yeovil and Swindon drew a blank to leave both sides in the the thick of the League One relegation fight. Paul Terry headed against the post from an Arron Davies's cross in what was the Glovers' best opportunity. But Jamie Cureton wasted an even better chance for Swindon, hitting the angle of bar and post with a powerful shot from substitute Ricky Shakes' cross. Davies thought he had won it for Yeovil when he converted from close range but the goal was ruled out for offside. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yeovil: Collis, Lockwood, Skiverton (Gall 27), Guyett, Jones, Lindegaard, Terry, Cohen, Poole (Miles 69), Harrold (Webb 84), Davies. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Jordan. Swindon: Evans, O'Hanlon, Gurney, Jenkins (Miglioranzi 67), Jack Smith, Whalley, Pook (Shakes 72), Brown, Nicholas, Peacock, Cureton. Subs Not Used: Bulman, Benjamin, Roberts. Att: 7,451 Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).

Colchester v Swindon
Kem Izzet will be back for Colchester after a one-match ban and Tony Thorpe is set to return after being cup-tied for the LDV Vans game against Swansea. Richard Garcia is still rated doubtful with a knee injury as they look to stop a run of eight games without a win. Swindon manager Iffy Onuora has no fresh injury worries for the trip to Layer Road. Jerel Ifil is still ruled out through suspension while Paul Smith is still recovering from a foot injury.

Colchester 1-0 Swindon
Chris Iwelumo's early penalty was enough to give Colchester the points and end their eight-game winless run. Iwelumo found the target on six minutes after Andy Gurney fouled former Swindon striker Tony Thorpe in the area. Earlier, Swindon had almost taken the lead when Jamie Cureton rattled the post from just six yards. But the U's went on to dominate and had numerous chances to add to their lead through Thorpe, Karl Duguid, Neil Danns, Greg Halford and Iwelumo. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colchester: Davison, Baldwin, Chilvers, Brown, Duguid, Halford, Danns, Watson, Yeates (White 87), Thorpe (Izzet 80), Iwelumo. Subs Not Used: Gerken, Guy, Vernon. Booked: Duguid. Goals: Iwelumo 14 pen. Swindon: Evans, Jenkins, O'Hanlon, Gurney, Jack Smith, Brown, Pook, Whalley (Roberts 79), Nicholas (Comyn-Platt 66), Cureton, Peacock (Benjamin 58). Subs Not Used: Miglioranzi, Shakes. Booked: Jack Smith, Gurney. Att: 3,767 Ref: G Sutton (Lincolnshire).

Swansea set new date for Swindon
Swansea City have arranged a new date for the League One visit of Swindon Town to the Liberty Stadium. The west country side will now make the trip to Swansea on Tuesday, 11 April (1945 BST). The original date of Saturday, 1 April, had to be changed when the Swans made the final of the LDV Vans trophy with Carlisle, to be played on 2 April. Ticket details for the visit of relegation-threatened Swindon will be announced next week

Onuora bullish on survival push
Swindon boss Iffy Onuora believes his side have the bravery to avoid relegation from League One after his side's 2-0 win against Chesterfield. He said: "It was a little bit scrappy but between now and the end of the season I don't think we will see too many classic games. "As long as we stay strong and be brave then we will be fine. "We have a little break now - we now go into the break with a win under our belts and in a nice place."

Swindon 2-0 Chesterfield
Jamie Cureton scored two goals in the second half to help Swindon to victory at the expense of Chesterfield. Cureton's first came after Spireites keeper Robert Beckwith fumbled Trevor Benjamin's effort and he was on hand to finish with his thigh. Cureton scored his second after latching on to Gareth Whalley's through ball to finish past Beckwith with the outside of his right foot. Benjamin missed two good chances in the first half. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Swindon: Evans, Jenkins, Jack Smith, O'Hanlon, Gurney (Ifil 90), Pook (Diagouraga 45), Whalley, Comyn-Platt, Brown, Benjamin (McPhee 82), Cureton. Subs Not Used: Jutkiewicz, Shakes. Booked: Gurney, Diagouraga. Goals: Cureton 53, 90. Chesterfield: Beckwith, Bailey, Picken, O'Hare (Foyle 70), Downes, Niven, Allott, O'Hara, Hall (Larkin 81), Smith (Hurst 61), Folan. Subs Not Used: Roche, Heath. Booked: O'Hare. Att: 5,661 Ref: G Hegley (Hertfordshire).

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