Burying good news: Ian Holloway is steering clear of the P word, but the belief is there... so, can it really happen?

On Friday, the Swindon Town manager sat in the press room at the County Ground and answered the local media’s questions. It was, as far as these occasions go, pretty routine: a few gentle quips, praise for his players, a dollop of hyperbole about the stature of the next game.

But with each passing press conference, the vibe is changing behind the scenes. There is a genuine optimism seeping through at Town, borne from an unbeaten run that stretches back six weeks.

For the first time in more than a year, Swindon fans are looking up instead of down. Hope, at least in terms of the onfield activities, has returned. The more gung-ho among the Town community have started to talk about the possibility of the playoffs.