Ian Holloway sorry as Swindon’s slump costs them a play-off place

Ian Holloway apologised to Swindon fans after their promising season crashed at the final hurdle as Chesterfield triumphed in a winner-takes-all clash for a League Two play-off spot.

Lee Bonis put the visitors ahead before Ben Middlemas’ leveller on the stroke of half-time but Dilan Markanday’s 61st-minute winner saw the Spireites pip Town at the death.

Town had never been out of the top seven from late August to late April but just one win in the last seven games – and one point from their final four – saw them finish three points off the pace.

Holloway said: “I can only apologise to all the Swindon fans here. We promised so much and delivered nothing.

“I am bitterly disappointed. It’s been coming. We’ve been getting gradually worse since that January window with the injuries that we’ve had in the group. I’m devastated.

“I take full responsibility for all of it. I’ve had fantastic support from the chairman.”

Chesterfield will take on Notts County in the play-offs, with the first leg at home next Sunday.

Spireites assistant boss Danny Webb said: “I feel joy for our supporters, really, because in the last six or seven years, they’ve always had something to look forward to in the last game of the season, although there were a lot of nerves I should imagine.

“A special mention to all of our players for defending that box with their lives today. There’s a lot of tired legs in there. A lot of lads are saying how shattered they are.”

But Webb was not going to get carried away.

He said: “The music is on and there’s high fiving, but we haven’t achieved anything yet.

“We have a real tough couple of games against our rivals, Notts County, but for the here and now more for the couple of thousand supporters that came down they will enjoy the weekend.

“Last season, we had 70 points and didn’t really turn up against Walsall in the play-offs. This year, we’ve got 79 and we have to turn up against Notts County.”