Good Afternoon

It has been a strange month for us to be honest. People looking at our stats would say our form has been relegation material. The Port Vale game was our worst performance and it disappoints me that we have gone from having a fantastic spell in October, to losing goals like we are at the moment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that when you are losing two goals a game, you will finish on the losing side. In October we were scoring for fun and not conceding; we need to get back to that rhythm. I won't be chopping and changing the team for the sake of it though.

I held a meeting with the players this morning to outline the game plan we need to be working to. At Leeds we got a lot of crosses into the box for the first twenty-five minutes, then we forgot all about it! We then let Leeds back into the game because of it. We have to lift ourselves for a derby this weekend. The players have to be realistic that we made mistakes and those mistakes can be rectified. The penalty was a penalty, but for the second goal there was defending to be done and we didn't do it.

We have been fined for our seven bookings at Leeds. We will lick our lips and get on with it because there is not a lot we can do. We could be here all day discussing what went on, but that's not going to change the situation. We are not a dirty team by any stretch of the imagination. The crime count table - as I call it - doesn't feature Swindon towards the top.

What I will say is that a journalist from The Sun certainly used his journalistic license in Saturday's papers when he quoted me as saying Swindon were bigger than Leeds United. I don't think the two clubs are poles apart on the pitch, but it is certainly different off the pitch. I can assure Dennis that I wasn't drinking when I said that! I have no problem with Dennis, we had a good chat after the game.

With regards to the embargo, I said what I said because I believe that fans of this football club have been kept in the dark for too long. I will keep going down the road of saying it as it is because I want our supporters to know exactly what is going on at the football club.

The ten days rest seems to have done Jerel Ifil a lot of good. Although he won't take part in the second session today, he is coping and feels better in himself. Jack Smith, Chris Blackburn and Hasney Aljofree are yet to train this week and Jamie Vincent won't make Saturday's game. Phil Smith is due to have his operation today.

I am going to Brentford tonight to see our Under 18's in the FA Youth Cup at Griffin Park. We have scouts going to see Rotherham's game with Forest Green Rovers. The FA Cup game is one we are looking forward to, whoever we play it will be a tough encounter.

First though we have the small matter of a derby clash with Bristol Rovers to contend with. We have to lift our game; starting this weekend.