AT 5PM on Saturday afternoon, Swindon Town could be top of League One, writes Danny Hall.

Having lost their unbeaten record at Swindon’s County Ground, leaders Bristol City conspired to lose at home to fellow promotion challengers Preston and are now seriously looking at three defeats in a row as they travel to Peterboro on Friday night. No wonder boss Steve Cotterill looks a candidate for anger management courses.

Preston go to Yeovil and the form book says that they should get something out of the game, but then so should Swindon Town at home to Fleetwood Town. And Swindon – a point behind City but one ahead of Preston – have the best goal difference of the top three teams.

Swindon are nothing if not unpredictable, shining against the best teams and stuttering when taking on the less able.

But they have now come through a Black November of fixtures, with three successive victories against City, Preston and Posh. And that after spurning a trio of winnable fixtures against Yeovil, Rochdale and Colchester when gaining just two points in nine.

Throw in the inexplicable 5-0 FA Cup defeat against Cheltenham and maybe a pattern is emerging.

Town are great against the sides who have the temerity to think they can outplay us, but haven’t yet got the knack of regularly beating teams that come to spoil and contain.

I’m only beginning to get my head around the defending that our open style of play inevitably leads to.

At Posh on Saturday, Swindon had got a firm foothold in the first 46 minutes with a two-goal lead and a dominant display. Then it was backs-to-the-wall time and we were perhaps lucky to come away with the three points as the hosts claimed with some legitimacy they should have had two penalties.

Jack Stephens again took the opportunity of continuing his holding midfield role – with Yasser Kasim and Massimo Luongo rested after their international exploits – to put in a man of the match display. Stephens is beginning to look convincing in that position. But surely Swindon’s midfield trio of Kasim, Luongo and Louis Thompson is untouchable.

Stephens will rightly argue that he should not be dropped but then equally Rossi Branco, for all the palpitations he gives to fans, has a greater physicality in defence and there is no confusion in his mind about what position he should be playing.

Finally, it is good news that Harry Toffolo has extended his loan as he has quickly and justifiably ousted Amari’i Bell from the left wing back role.