The League Two promotion battle has intensified in recent weeks, with five clubs pulling away and separating themselves from the rest at the top of the division.
Swindon Town find themselves in the heat of this promotion tussle, and manager Ian Holloway insists that the preseason target of automatic promotion has only become more crucial after an impressive campaign.
Four clubs are separated by just three points, slotted in behind league leaders Bromley, making every gameweek a high-stakes event for fans of the fourth tier.
In their veteran boss, the Robins have a man who has seen just about everything the EFL has to offer, with his knowledge and wisdom likely to prove crucial in the coming weeks and months.
Ian Holloway Lays Down The Challenge To His Players
The 62-year-old has radiated no shortage of confidence, following a midweek of positivity for his side. The clutch of rearranged matches on Tuesday evening saw dropped points for Andy Woodman’s side, leaving a clean slate for the chasing pack ahead of the weekend’s games.
Following comments by their boss published in the Swindon Advertiser this week, the Swindon players should be relishing their trip to Crawley Town at the weekend. The former Blackpool manager has been around long enough to know football doesn’t always deliver what you want, but he has made no secret of his desire to finish in the top three this season.
“I am fully expecting to be able to celebrate at the end of the season… the race is this long and whoever has a brilliant finish normally wins or comes third or second.”
With the gauntlet well and truly thrown down, the Wiltshire outfit has no shortage of motivation to bounce back from two matches without a win at the next opportunity. His well documented passion was on full display recently, so much so that he will now serve a touchline ban following his red card when tensions spilled over against Bristol Rovers. While they do need him in the technical area for the run in, no one can doubt that Holloway’s endeavour to win is still very much prevalent.
More Cohesion Is The Secret For Swindon Town
Holloway also believes that his squad’s growing chemistry and cohesion will be the key to firing them to promotion, as the players get to know each other better and begin to fully realize their collective potential.
“I believe I have a really good group of lads there who don’t really know each other yet, properly.”
His point was reinforced by assistant head coach Marcus Bignot in the Swindon Advertiser, who also believes that the squad has what it takes to accumulate the number of points needed to secure automatic promotion.
With more quality seemingly not yet realized, and having put themselves in the perfect position to strike, there is certainly scope for encouragement for Robins fans.
It’s fair to say that County Ground regulars have been some of the most entertained this season, with league top scorer Aaron Drinan profiting from the creativity of those around him.
In a season that is shaping up to be decided by the smallest of margins, the shared effort of putting extra trust in one another could make all the difference.
Five Into Three Doesn’t Go
Given the high caliber of League Two this season, it’s inevitable that at least two deserving teams will be left disappointed, facing the daunting prospect of the play-offs.
Whether or not you believe it has become a straight fight between the top five, it is certainly that quintet that currently holds the cards. Certainly don’t write off the likes of an in-form Crewe Alexandra from rising to the top, having timed their form at an opportune time.
If Bromley aren’t to be playing League One football next season, it would take a monumental implosion. The Ravens extended their unbeaten league run to 17 games with Tuesday’s stalemate at home to Oldham, and look as nerveless as a team can at this stage of an EFL season.
Free-scoring Milton Keynes Dons are another team riding the crest of a considerable wave; unbeaten in 10 league matches, Paul Warne has seen his team climb into third place, with squad depth and many sources of goals key to their rise.
Cambridge United occupies the other promotion spot at the moment, with an impermeable defensive record working wonders for their promotion chances. The U’s have conceded just 27 league goals all season, comfortably a league best. If they are able to maintain this crucial shape and organisation, an immediate return to the third tier is a near certainty.
Notts County have commendably clung to the coattails of those ahead of them, patiently awaiting their opportune moment to make their move.
In such a tightly contested arena, confidence is paramount, a quality that is visibly brimming from Ian Holloway as he leads Swindon Town. With many of the key contenders set to collide between now and the season’s climax, it’s conceivable that head-to-head encounters will ultimately dictate which clubs secure automatic promotion from League Two this season.
