A sold-out County Ground awaits as Swindon Town FC prepare for a do-or-die showdown with Chesterfield FC. For Ian Holloway and his players, it is brutally simple, win and keep the season alive, lose and it is over.
Manager Ian Holloway admitted the situation is of their own making.
“We’ve basically let automatic promotion slip out of our hands,” he said. “We could have been, should have been, but that means nothing now. We’ve got one game, and it’s in our hands.”
Last weekend’s heavy defeat remains fresh in the mind.
“I thought they looked like they couldn’t deal with the situation when we went one nil down,” he said. “Their crowd got involved, and we didn’t respond how I wanted. We just wimped.”
He pointed to key moments that shifted momentum.
“You let a goal in after seconds, you let another in, and suddenly you’re nervous. That’s what I saw,” he added.
Holloway also reflected on his recent touchline ban, accepting responsibility.
“I’m not proud of what I did. I’ve let the team down, I’ve let the club down,” he said. “But I care about this club immensely.”
He will watch the decisive match from the stands.
“I’ll be higher up, I’ll be able to see it better. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.”
Despite the setbacks, the equation is simple.
“One win and we’re in the playoffs. One win and your season’s alive. One loss and it’s over,” he said.
The manager said the focus this week has been on honesty and accountability within the squad.
“There’s been honesty. We’ve changed things. They’ve got to take ownership now,” he explained.
Supporters could also play a crucial role.
“We need you. Make it hell for them,” he urged. “The noise is a vital ingredient, it affects the opposition.”
For Holloway, belief must now be matched with action.
“I still believe. I believe in my boys,” he said. “But belief isn’t enough on its own, you’ve got to take action.”
The message is clear ahead of kick-off.
“We can’t draw. We’ve got to win.”
