Former BBC Wiltshire match commentator Vic Morgan returns for the 2016/17 season…

Swindon Town’s early season home form looks pretty good right now. A couple of games, a couple of wins and a couple of clean sheets.

I know I’m testing providence by writing this just ahead of the local derby on Saturday, but positivity isn’t always a bad thing.

A single goal win against Coventry on opening day followed by victory by the same margin over Port Vale, means six out of six at the County Ground and an early season top ten position. Okay it’s just a couple of weeks into the 2016/17 campaign, but rather where we are now than lower down.

It was a tough game against in form Vale who showed signs that they’ll be one of the teams that might do rather well. They looked solid and able to mount the odd dangerous attack. In what was a pretty tedious first half, there was nothing between the two sides.

That quickly changed after the break when Bradley Barry finished superbly to enter the Swindon Town goal scoring lists. It was a deserved reward for the Town defender who’s been one of the most consistent members of the squad since signing last Summer. Always willing to work hard up and down the flank, it’s been great to see him develop over the past twelve months.

Our excellent goalkeeper was once again called upon to prove he’s arguably the best in League One on a couple of occasions, but it was a deserved win for Swindon. The fledgling striking partnership of Luke Norris and Nathan Delfouneso will take time to bed in but when fitness levels increase, they could prove a more than decent pairing.

That’s for the future of course and that future starts this weekend with the renewal of our rivalry with Bristol Rovers. There’s no doubt the Pirates have experienced footballs downs and up since we last met. Relegation to the National League, a Wembley play off win and elevation back to the third tier.

In a season of local derbies it’s good to have Rovers company again. One of our oldest rivals, there’ve been many great contests between the clubs stretching back to the Eastville days. It’s now a superstore of course, but many will remember the large stadium that Rovers once called home. Surrounded by a speedway track, it wasn’t the best of grounds to watch a game on but it did have a terrific atmosphere.

That’s all in the past and the rekindling of rivalry takes place on Saturday lunchtime at the County Ground. Here’s hoping that the solid start continues and I’d quite happily take another single Swindon goal and a clean sheet.

Keep it loud keep it proud keep it SWINDON!