Ian Holloway holds hope in Swindon’s promotion chances despite MK Dons loss

Ian Holloway believes Swindon are still in the promotion race despite losing to promotion rivals MK Dons.

His faltering side have not won in the last four games and clawed their way back into the game against in-form MK Dons, only to lose to Marvin Ekpiteta’s late winner.

Holloway said: “Yeah, it’s another really disappointing day for us all. You know, we come into it with knowing that they’re a very good team. They’re having a great run.

“They caught up six points on us in three days, and now they’ve gone and taken another three off us. So yeah, very disappointing overall.

“So with must-win games and you lose them, what do you do after that? I’ll be still alive tomorrow. I’ll have a look at that.”

Town are now 10 points behind leaders Bromley.

Holloway said: “Do we deserve to be that far? Probably didn’t, no, probably don’t, but we are, so let’s just deal with it, and what we’re doing is letting in too many blooming goals.”

Neither side had much to show from the first 20 minutes until Ryan Tafazolli strode forward and fed the unmarked Ollie Clarke, who aimed for the far corner but was denied by a fine save by Craig MacGillivray.

Aaron Collins drove down the flank and found Alex Gilbey at the far post, but the Dons midfielder hammered yards over.

Gilbey redeemed himself with a low shot from outside the box, which deflected off Tafazolli to put the viitors ahead in the 36th minute.

Swindon levelled 11 minutes after the interval when Clarke expertly poked home after gathering Aaron Drinan’s cutback on the run.

Drinan then held off his marker and bore down on goal, but dragged his shot just wide of the far post.

However, Ekpiteta handed MK Dons their third straight win against faltering Town.

Dons boss Paul Warne said: “We’re making good habits of picking up three points. A draw was probably a fair result, both teams had good chances. Both teams were going for it.

“In games when they’re tight, set-pieces can be the difference between success and failure.

“And today, we defended our set-pieces really well. And luckily, we got one.

“And that accompanied with a save off Craig first half, which is arguably the best save I’ve seen this year.

“Because Town were getting bigger, they were causing some problems.

“I am really pleased with everyone’s efforts today. I think we’ll play better, but then you have to respect the opposition. They made it difficult for us, as we did for them.

“If it had fizzled out as a one all. I don’t think either sets would have much to complain about, but luckily, we were on the right side of the result today.”