Charlie Austin out to turn back the clock to 2014… and score ANOTHER hat-trick past Ben Foster as Swindon face Wrexham
CHARLIE AUSTIN will hope to turn back the clock and get the better of Ben Foster again when Swindon travel to Wrexham today.
Robins striker Austin, 34, scored a stunning hat-trick as QPR fought back from 2-0 down to beat Foster’s West Brom 3-2 in the Premier League at Loftus Road back in 2014.
And today Red Dragons keeper Foster, 40, will be reunited with his tormentor in North Wales but this time in League Two.
Both players have signed further one-year deals to extend their long, illustrious careers.
Former England, Manchester United and Watford stopper Foster came out of retirement in March to help Wrexham win the National League while ex-Southampton, Burnley and West Brom ace Austin moved to Wilshire in December.
Swindon only won three of their last 14 matches last season to blow their promotion play-off hopes.
But Austin said: “I just wanted to help the club by extending my contract. The way last season ended wasn’t ideal, so when I spoke to the chairman Clem Morfuni and the new manager Michael Flynn regarding what he’s trying to do I wanted to be a part of it.
“It was an easy decision.
“We’re ready to go again this season. We’ve had a tough but enjoyable pre-season.
“Our first game of the season at Colchester being postponed didn’t help because we’re a game behind already.”
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Wrexham got their first win in the EFL for more than 15 years by beating Walsall 4-2 after a 5-3 loss at home to MK Dons and 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon.
Scoring goals has not been a problem but keeping clean sheets has.
And defender Will Boyle is hoping they remedy that at the County Ground today.
He said: “It’s important we got off the mark against Walsall. The longer it goes, things can become a bit tense and it can affect performances.
“It was a decent performance but we can definitely work on a few things.
“The two goals were avoidable and now we need to get that first clean sheet because it’s important for the group to get that.
“But what’s more important is to back up that win with another one. All of a sudden you look back at the last seven days and from a results perspective it looks promising.”
Boyle, 27, signed from Championship club Huddersfield in the summer and marked his home debut against the Saddler with a goal himself — a header from a Luke Young cross.
And he said: “It’s always nice to score, especially early, so it is good to get off the mark. I’ve consistently had goals in my game throughout my career, it is something that can be a threat for the team.
“It’s important you spread the goals out throughout the team and you’re a threat from set-plays because it is a big part of the game so I am happy with that.”
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