On Monday I was asked a question that I’m sure many Swindon fans have been asked since Town’s impressive start to the season.

“Will Town go up this season?”

The old cynic in me responded with a chuckle, and a simple “no”

After suffering defeats in every big game in recent years, involving cup finals, playoff semi-finals and finals, unfortunately natural reflex is to be negative about our chances.

In League One only three teams out of twenty four can earn themselves a ticket to the Championship, with the odds stacked against us, my first thought is not to get carried away with the dream of promotion.

Last Saturday at Brisbane Road, Town put on a superb performance to beat early promotion contenders Leyton Orient 2-0.

At the start of last season our hosts last Saturday Leyton Orient, were not promotion contenders, similar to Town they were expected to just make up the numbers, but they surprised many people as they made it to the playoff final.

They had an unfashionable manager in Russell Slade and a team full of unrecognizable players, but they upset the odds in making it to Wembley.

It’s encouraging that clubs with the size of Leyton Orient’s budget can upset the odds, and gives hope to Town for this season.

It’s too early to be thinking about promotion or trips to Wembley, but it never hurts to start dreaming about what could happen next May.

Unfortunately one avenue to Wembley was firmed shut on Tuesday as Plymouth dumped Town out the Johnstones Paint Trophy.

Despite the result at Home Park, we got to finally see the full debut of Anton Rodgers.

As Town endured one of their worse first half displays, it was hard to judge the former Oldham midfielder on this game, but I look forward to seeing him make a bigger impression over coming weeks.

Last week I briefly mentioned that the clubs biggest test of the season would be when the clock strikes midnight on 1st January.

One of the downsides of having a successful team in League One is the arrival of more and more scouts from the Championship, and possibly the Premier League.

It’s the biggest white elephant in any conversation when people discuss how well we’re playing and out performing our opponents.

It’s obvious that Town will receive offers for Massimo Luongo in January, its more a case of when and not if he leaves for pastures new.

The real test of Lee Power’s premiership comes if we receive bids for other key players like Wes Foderingham, Nathan Thompson, Yaser Kasim and Nathan Byrne.

I have no reason to doubt in Lee Powers judgment on transfers since he became chairman, but when he has £1M-£2M offers for players in front of him, I can only hope at the forefront of his mind will be thousands of Town fans who have been waiting for years to escape League One.

If he keeps this squad together, then I can be confident when I get asked the question “Will Town go up this season?”

I’ll be responding, “Minimum expectation is a playoff spot.”

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