Ian Holloway believes automatic promotion still possible for Swindon

Swindon boss Ian Holloway is still eyeing automatic promotion after his side’s 2-0 victory at struggling Gillingham.

Second-half goals from Aaron Drinan and Fletcher Holman did the damage as the Robins ended their four-game winless run with victory at Priestfield.

Holloway’s side, who were flying at the top earlier this season, are three points off the top three.

He insisted: “I believe we can get enough points to go up automatically.

“There are only eight games left. Can we win all eight? If not, can we win seven?

“It might need to be that sort of total [for promotion] and if not, let’s see how many we can get because we don’t want it to peter out.

“We had a blip which came at the wrong time.

“My favourite bit about the performance was the goals. We needed that win.

“It’s a great feeling to win again and get that [run] behind us and get on to the next one.

“We needed everybody to do well and we did.

“You’ve just got to keep going. I’m really proud of them. We’ve ground it out and managed to hold on.

“We still need to get better, but I’m very pleased with them. The quality of the finishes has been the difference.”

Gareth Ainsworth’s Gills have lost three on the spin and had shipped 10 goals in their previous two games heading into the fixture.

But Ainsworth said: “I got the response I asked for. In a nutshell, how we haven’t taken something from that game is amazing.

“We were definitely the dominant team. Their keeper’s made a worldie save in the first half. There were two moments where we need to defend better.

“That will be dealt with and those players will be told.

“It was a million miles away from the last two games. I think that’s because some of the more established players are back so we’re not so young and not so naive.

“I’m gutted for the boys because they’ve given everything there and unfortunately we’re coming away with nothing.

“We did everything we could except score a goal. But it will come. Honestly, the future looks great for me.

“I’ve got stuff to build on here. I want the players to turn up like that every week and to play like that on Saturday.

“If we do that again on Saturday we’ll win the game. That’s the message.”