Ian Holloway fears ‘uptight’ Swindon could have blown automatic promotion hopes

Boss Ian Holloway admitted promotion-chasing Swindon “look tense” after Luke Butterfield netted a stoppage-time equaliser for Accrington in a 2-2 draw.

Stanley went ahead inside a minute from a Josh Woods tap-in and rescued a last-gasp point through Butterfield, bracketing goals from Ollie Palmer and Aaron Drinan.

The Robins have seen their automatic promotion hopes further dented and their play-off place is still not guaranteed with two games left.

Holloway said: “It’s hard to be positive in any way when you see my backside has hardly touched the seat and we’ve let one in.

“We came back, scored two. But we’re not fluid. They look uptight, they look tense.

“They just don’t look like the same people, whoever I pick, whatever I do, whoever we put out there.

“I don’t recognise who they are – the lack of communication compared to training is just unreal, even with the senior ones.”

Holloway fears Town have blown any chance of an automatic promotion slot after another lame draw and added: “It’s bitterly disappointing. The character of all of us has got to be questioned.

“With a minute to go, you let another one in, when those three points would have put pressure on everybody else and would have more or less guaranteed us in the play-offs, at least.

“Even that’s not there now.”

Accrington took a quick lead after Isaac Sinclair got down the right and his cross-shot was deflected to Woods, who tapped in at the far post.

The Robins were level in the 18th minute when Palmer nodded in Jake Batty’s cross at the far post.

Two minutes later Palmer was sent racing through but his rebounded shot went to Drinan, who had a lot to do to work space and fire home from an angle through a crowd of players.

Home goalkeeper Connor Ripley then pulled off a stunning save from Woods’ sharp near-post header from point-blank range while Drinan bore down on goal but Ollie Wright saved with his leg.

After the break, Joe Snowdon rattled the bar for Town from distance after chopping back on the left wing and Fletcher Holman was set free but Wright again blocked with his leg.

But, two minutes into added time, Butterfield gobbled up a rebound after Ripley spilled Shaun Whalley’s shot to grab a point.

Stanley boss John Doolan said: “It feels like a win because it’s a late one, but it was totally justified.

“I was just so proud and Connor Ripley made some good saves. So we could have actually got more out of the game.

“You hear people label ‘these lot are on the beach, they are on the beach’. I’m never going to be on the beach.

“You represent the badge. You represent the club. It’s your duty to go and perform and play.”