Ian Holloway has called for unity at Swindon Town after his side was booed off following their latest defeat. The manager said he retains full belief in his players ahead of a key League Two fixture at Salford City this weekend.
Swindon were jeered by sections of the Arkell's Stand after a 2-1 EFL Trophy loss to Crystal Palace Under-21s at the County Ground last Tuesday. Antwoine Hackford's 23rd-minute opener was cancelled out before half-time, with the visitors sealing the win ten minutes after the break. That result extended a concerning recent run, with the team now having lost their last two matches and sitting ninth in the table with 10 points from six games.
Speaking to reporters, Holloway addressed the fan reaction directly. He pointed to an injury-hit start to the season and the challenge of integrating young players from various academies as factors behind the inconsistent form. The manager admitted some aspects of his team's performance have been below standard.
"You’ve got to stand up for what you believe in and I believe in Swindon Town, that’s what I believe in," Holloway said.
He extended an open invitation to any dissatisfied supporters, urging them to speak with him directly. Holloway's core message was one of collective effort, stressing that turning things around requires everyone pulling in the same direction. A victory on the road, he argued, could quickly shift the mood.
"I believe in the players, I believe in the fans, I believe the ones who go away really deserve some things so I want my team to go away on Saturday and if we win is everything alright for a while or not?"
The immediate focus is firmly on Saturday's trip to the Peninsula Stadium to face 15th-placed Salford City. Holloway described securing three points there as the catalyst needed to rebuild confidence. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the table looks in our standings. The manager is clear that a positive result against Salford is the first step towards silencing the critics and getting the season back on a promising track.
The original report is at Swindon Advertiser
