We've everything to gain and nothing to lose - Holloway
Holloway: 'We're still in a fantastic position compared to where we were last year'
- Published
Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway wants his player to concentrate on what they can "gain" and not what they can "lose" this season.
Having led League Two earlier in the season, the Robins are outside of the automatic promotion places on goal difference following Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Crewe Alexandra.
There are just four points between leaders Bromley and Holloway's side in fifth, with 12 matches of the 2025-26 campaign remaining.
"When something's there and it ain't that far away now, and you want to get there so badly, you've got to stick to the process," Holloway told BBC Wiltshire.
"You don't start trying to run too fast or you fall over and then you get caught.
"I don't want that creeping in. The two halves at Shrewsbury, the first half at Barnet, the first half at Crewe. This isn't a good time to be like this.
"When you've got it there and you can grab it. You've got to pull it out of the fire if you want something, but my hands are burning at the moment."
Holloway, 61, arrived in October 2024 with the Robins 22nd, three points above the relegation places, and led them to a 12th-placed finish last season.
Swindon are in their fifth-straight season in League Two and have made the play-offs just once in that span, finishing sixth in 2021-22.
"All my experience, every single game I have lived through [over 1,600 as player and manager], I believe we need to play like it doesn't matter, and play with freedom and be upbeat about it," Holloway added.
"You don't do any more than you're doing at the moment. We can still reach 85 points, if we win eight and lose four. I want us to play like we've got everything to gain and nothing to lose, but I don't think they're feeling like that."
Swindon's next two matches are both against relegation strugglers Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town followed by a key home clash with promotion rivals MK Dons.
"Its all about the end of the season, and what we've all got to do is to stick with it and try and encourage the lads, because its tough when you've got to do it," he said.
"You want your team to play eight out of ten if they can, particularly in the important games, and every one of them is important from now on in.
"You just look who we've got left to play, and we're still in a fantastic position compared to where we were last year."
