First off… A Happy New Year to all Washbag Blog readers. Here’s hoping today’s game with AFC Bournemouth is a success and firmly sets a positive start for STFC in 2011.

December was dominated by the weather so only 3 games were played.

Town bounced back from a patchy November league form with a crucial three points with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. The match again showed Town fare reasonably well against the promotion challengers, after earlier victories over Huddersfield, Colchester and Huddersfield, however with a replay against Crawley midweek would Town again not build upon a victory?

On a freezing Tuesday night encounter at The County Ground, Town surrendered a 2-1 lead against Crawley to exit the FA Cup in the 2nd Round with a late, late extra time defeat. The game was dominated by the pantomime performance of Crawley boss Steve Evans and his staff on the touchline and Jonathan Douglas’ dismissal on the half time whistle. It was a surprise Town held out for as long as they did following Crawley’s equaliser in the 69th minute and Crawley deserved the victory over a rudderless Town.

The day after Danny Wilson’s 2nd anniversary at Swindon, Town met Peterborough in the last match of 2010 in a 1-1 draw.

The match summed up the year, our reliance on the brilliant Charlie Austin. Back in January Austin netted against Gillingham in our opening League One fixture in 2010, his goal against Peterborough was his 28th in 40 league and cup appearance in the calendar year. It wasn’t as if those 28 had come as a result of braces or hatricks… all 28 were in 28 different matches.

2011 will undoubtedly be defined by whether Charlie stays or, as seems likely, leaves The County Ground. Whilst I don’t want to put too much onus on a single player… as the old adage goes… this boy’s a bit special.

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