Sid Nelson is going into the League Two fixture against Oldham knowing that fans are expecting a similar performance to last week’s victory against Yeovil.
Defensive solidity has been key to good results recently – with Town keeping three clean sheets in the last four games – but Nelson says that last week’s victory at Huish Park has given them a base level that they have to reach going forward.
“100%. Yeovil has set a standard – we knew we were capable of doing that to any team in the league and we’re glad to get that out of the way because it has set a bar, a standard and we don’t want to drop from that.
“The first clean sheet at Morecambe was something we’d been talking about for quite a while and it’s something we needed to get as soon as possible and as soon as we got that, we knew we could do it and then it happened again the Tuesday night after as well.
“I feel like we actually deserved a clean sheet before Morecambe but luck went against us – now that we’re three (clean sheets) in four the standard is there.
“The boys here are all spot on – we, as defenders, have got a great understanding. We’re all complimenting each other.”
Ahead of the test of Oldham, Nelson believes that Swindon and others in the league are part of an ongoing improvement of the style of football played in the fourth tier.
“As the years go on the game is evolving – ten years ago, League Two was a lot more about long ball but, here, we’re all capable of playing and we’re at a stage, now, where we know out strengths and I think, that’s certainly one of them, putting the ball down and keeping the ball.
“Every team comes out and has a different approach so it changes week-on-week. As a defender now, you’ve got to be able to do both so when the time is right, get the ball down and get the first pass off but if it’s got to go, it’s got to go.”
