Nathan looks right at home (From Swindon Advertiser)

Nathan looks right at home

6:00am Monday 24th September 2012 in STFC News By Andy Warren

Nathan Thompson

NATHAN Thompson will not allow himself to feel comfortable as Swindon Town’s first choice right-back despite putting in a man-of-the-match display against Bournemouth.

The youth team graduate barely missed a header or a tackle as the Town defence shut out the Cherries, and also played his part as Swindon pushed forwards.

He has had to be patient after Joe Devera was the first player to step into the shoes of exiled former skipper Paul Caddis, but now he is there, he is not taking his place in the team for granted.

“It has been a long time coming and maybe I will never feel secure there, but fortunately I have put two good performances, although we have been told to forget about the game and go again for Tuesday,” he said.

“I will continue to do everything I can when I get given the chance and then we will see.

"It is all about match fitness, and for me when I have been playing for teams week in week out I have always thought my performances have been right up there, it has been a long time coming but now I have proved to the gaffer I am more than capable.

"Confidence from the gaffer is always nice, and it would be good to continue that into Tuesday night against Burnley if I am given the opportunity."

The 21-year-old has enjoyed playing alongside veteran Darren Ward, and believes the 34-year-old is helping him improve.

“Darren is constantly in your ear telling you about your positioning and things like that, sometimes you switch off for just a split second and he is there telling you to ‘do this or do that’ and that is exactly what you need as a young lad coming through,” he said.

“In training he is a top professional and his diet is great, and it is brilliant to be playing alongside someone who can help you like that, and I think having someone like that alongside me means I can really build on it.”

Thompson was also full of praise for goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, who made a superb save from Matt Tubbs just before half-time as Bournemouth were looking to drag themselves back into the game.

“That shows the quality of what we have in Wes, and he was pretty much non-existent during the game, but then when we needed him he made a great saves, and having someone of that calibre behind us gave us a lot of confidence going into the second half.

“When they were 2-0 down we knew they were going to throw the kitchen sink at us, and we had to be able to close shop and not really give them any chances, and Wes didn’t have to do very much in the second half and that is how we want it to be.”