menu_open Columnists
Joe Acklam

Joe Acklam

Swindon Advertiser

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Swindon Town confirm their defensive credentials v Crawley

Swindon Town confirm their defensive credentials v Crawley

Swindon Town’s 1-0 victory over Crawley Town showed there are gaps in the team, but they finally have a defence that can be relied upon. The set...

23.12.2025 2

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Jake Tabor could be Swindon Town ideal Aaron Drinan stand-in

Jake Tabor could be Swindon Town ideal Aaron Drinan stand-in

In the absence of Aaron Drinan for the next two games, Swindon Town have a decision to make about their attack, and I think Jake Tabor could be the...

21.12.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town contract status before January transfer window

Swindon Town contract status before January transfer window

Swindon Town are preparing to enter the January transfer window in search of new additions, but which players are already tied to the club? The...

19.12.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town find themselves in frantic League Two period

Swindon Town find themselves in frantic League Two period

With four wins from five across the last fortnight, Swindon Town have now discovered exactly what it is that makes them tick. Even on a day in which...

16.12.2025 3

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town wait for 'Eureka moment' in frustrating run

Swindon Town wait for 'Eureka moment' in frustrating run

Swindon Town and their maddening inconsistency persisted again as they were anything but exciting in their 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town. Just when...

11.12.2025 2

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town make new move in League Two cat and mouse game

Swindon Town have shown that they are continuing to stay ahead of the pack in the eternal game of League Two cat and mouse. Whilst the Vertu Trophy...

04.12.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Ian Holloway is the key for Swindon Town's promotion bid

After a long week of discussing whether Ian Holloway had the right strategy to get the most out of the Swindon Town squad, he produced when it...

02.12.2025 2

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

How can Swindon Town get their stadium rocking again?

Swindon Town are second in the league and have lost once at home all season, so why is the Nigel Eady County Ground not rocking? 13 minutes into the...

29.11.2025 4

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town started well but concern is starting to grow

Swindon Town have enjoyed a very strong start to the season, but the more we see, the less it feels like we know about this team. I can’t think of...

25.11.2025 5

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town search for player to share goalscoring burden

Swindon Town have shared the goals around better than any other team this season, but need someone to support Aaron Drinan. Ryan Tafazolli became...

19.11.2025 5

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town see path without stars in promotion race

Swindon Town had to deal with life without their stars against Fleetwood Town, and it said a lot in an interesting promotion battle. For 40 minutes,...

18.11.2025 10

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town look to cope with perfect storm in attack

Swindon Town will have to do without their three top strikers against Fleetwood Town, so how can the attack work in their absence? In something of a...

15.11.2025 4

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town's most important player in November steps up

Ollie Palmer has displayed the traits to make him Swindon Town’s most important player in League Two for the next month. Last week, against...

11.11.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town new attacking trick taken from Sheffield United

Ian Holloway has been borrowing an old trick from Chris Wilder to help rediscover Swindon Town’s spark in attack. Following a lightning-quick...

05.11.2025 4

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town banish ghosts again with massive FA Cup victory

Ian Holloway has been talking about how damaging the Accrington Stanley defeat was, but the FA Cup win at Rotherham United could banish any lingering...

04.11.2025 4

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

How can Swindon Town arrest their slide in League Two?

Swindon Town have experienced a downturn in results in recent weeks. Is this part of a blip, or are there more reasons to be concerned? Despite...

01.11.2025 5

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Who will Swindon Town start against Rotherham United?

Swindon Town have a series of selection dilemmas to figure out ahead of facing Rotherham United in the FA Cup. As Swindon hope to put an end to...

01.11.2025 4

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town have no reason to begin panic after tough week

Although the last week has not gone well for Swindon Town, the time for panic remains a long way off after such a good start. It was glorious. A...

28.10.2025 3

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

The key stat for Swindon Town keeping up promotion form

Swindon Town were far from their best during the 2-2 draw against Notts County, but showed once again they have the ingredient that separates...

23.10.2025 3

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town must show their resilience after a bad defeat

We will learn a lot about Swindon Town in how they respond to a rough 4-0 defeat on the road against Accrington Stanley. I did not have a good day...

21.10.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

What stats and history say of Swindon Town promotion chances

The statistics suggest that Swindon Town’s strong start to the season is not just a patch of form, and they will be able to continue contending in...

14.10.2025 40

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Ranking Swindon Town's best League Two displays so far

Swindon Town have put in multiple eye-catching performances so far this season, so which outing has been their best after 11 games? Still to draw a...

10.10.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town's improving defence is key in promotion chase

Ryan Tafazolli has led a small defensive revolution at Swindon Town over the last few weeks, and that might put this team over the top. It was a...

07.10.2025 7

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town among England's best at these kinds of goals

Swindon Town’s ability to turn possession into goals has become a key driver behind their attacking explosion in the early part of this season. ...

01.10.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town squad strength made clear in Bromley victory

Swindon Town’s team selection against Bromley demonstrated the power of this squad, and Ian Holloway must be trusted to pick as he sees fit. At...

30.09.2025 9

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town's struggle with conceding may not be a problem

The number of goals Swindon Town have conceded so far is troubling, but it is not as big of a problem as it may appear. Nine matches into the...

24.09.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Finley Munroe proves he is irreplaceable for Swindon Town

Defeat at Salford City was a missed opportunity for Swindon Town to plant their flag on League Two, but Finley Munroe proved he is their only...

23.09.2025 9

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

The method behind Swindon Town being League Two top scorers

Swindon Town’s use of width and ability to adapt with slick attacking play has them as League Two’s top scorers once again. Following the injury...

12.09.2025 10

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

What stats show on Swindon Town coping without Harry Smith

Swindon Town’s style has noticeably shifted since the injury to Harry Smith as they have managed to thrive without their talisman. Since Smith’s...

09.09.2025 7

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town going top means nothing but it was important

Swindon Town’s early-season form does not mean anything yet, but there was a symbolic significance to going top of the pile at Barrow. For 30...

09.09.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town prove their depth for challenge in Reading win

Swindon Town’s late transfer business gave the feeling of a deep squad, and then the 3-2 victory over Reading confirmed that belief. Reacting to a...

04.09.2025 9

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town turn in best display of Holloway era at Crewe

Swindon Town were quite simply fantastic in all aspects against Crewe Alexandra in what must have been the best display of the Ian Holloway era. ...

01.09.2025 3

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

How Swindon Town can stop their set piece struggles

Swindon Town have had an issue defending set pieces so far this season, so how can they solve this problem in their back line? Ian Holloway entered...

29.08.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town stunning goal shows life without Harry Smith

Aaron Drinan’s opening goal for Swindon Town against Shrewsbury Town gave reason to believe in life after Harry Smith. Last week was an...

26.08.2025 10

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

How Swindon Town can survive if Harry Smith has bad injury

Swindon Town could be looking at a spell without their talismanic striker Harry Smith in the side following his injury against Barnet. Smith had to...

22.08.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town put in worst display of 2025 in loss to Barnet

Swindon Town put in quite possibly their worst performance of the calendar year against Barnet, but it was not a display that came out of nowhere. I...

21.08.2025 10

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town predicted line-up for home clash with Barnet

Swindon Town have to contend with multiple injury struggles as they take on Barnet at the Nigel Eady County Ground. Having made it back-to-back wins...

20.08.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Sam Parkin and Harry Morris - Swindon Town's best debuts

With the start of the season comes many new Swindon Town players looking to make a strong first impression, which previous stars have managed just...

16.08.2025 5

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town look crazy but there is method to the madness

With players being moved all over the pitch, do Swindon Town have the right make-up of their squad to accomplish their aims? In the first few weeks...

15.08.2025 5

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

How Swindon Town conceded 'world's worst goal' to Walsall

Swindon Town conceded the “world’s worst goal”, according to Ian Holloway, to lose at Walsall. What caused such a breakdown at the back? ...

07.08.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Lessons to take as Swindon Town lose to ten-man Walsall

Swindon Town failed to win their opening match of the season for the fourth season in a row as they went down 2-1 against ten-man Walsall. A...

05.08.2025 6

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town predicted line-up for opening day at Walsall

Swindon Town begin their season this weekend, and there will be plenty of intrigue around who Ian Holloway will pick to start the opener. Swindon...

02.08.2025 7

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town pre-season depth chart and which players start?

Swindon Town begin their League Two season this weekend against Walsall, so how does the squad look as the football is about to get started? This...

01.08.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

What lessons pre-season taught us about Swindon Town

Swindon Town had a strong pre-season with four wins from five matches, so what did we learn about the team during their preparations? Across five...

30.07.2025 30

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

What we learned in Swindon Town's comeback win at Eastleigh

Swindon Town kept up their perfect record in front of fans during pre-season with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory on the road at Eastleigh. Tyrese...

28.07.2025 3

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Things to watch as Swindon Town end pre-season at Eastleigh

Swindon Town will finish their pre-season slate on the road against National League side Eastleigh giving one last chance to figure things out. ...

26.07.2025 7

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Swindon Town selling Harry Smith would be 'a betrayal'

Swindon Town letting Harry Smith leave would not just be losing their best player, it would be a betrayal of the entire summer. The Smith cycle of...

25.07.2025 20

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

Seven boxes for Swindon Town to tick before season opener

Swindon Town have had a busy summer getting their squad ready, but with just over a week to go, what still needs to be figured out? Ian Holloway has...

25.07.2025 5

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

What can Swindon Town expect from Billy Bodin after return?

After 13 years away, Billy Bodin is back at Swindon Town, but a lot has changed in that time. Who is the player that they have brought back? ...

23.07.2025 8

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam

What we learned as Swindon Town dominated Chippenham Town

Swindon Town got their third win by a four-goal margin of pre-season as they defeated Chippenham Town 5-1 on the road. A dominant first half saw...

21.07.2025 4

Swindon Advertiser

Joe Acklam