'We have 90 minutes to save our season and that is looking desperate right now': Ian Holloway, boss of Chesterfield's final-day opponents
Ian Holloway, manager of Chesterfield's final-day opponents Swindon Town, has blasted his failing side, saying: “we’re not good enough”.
The Robins have stumbled in recent weeks, winning only one in six and hitting a new low in Saturday’s 4-0 reverse at top-end rivals Grimsby Town.
That leaves Swindon needing to beat Chesterfield at the County Ground on Saturday to get into the League Two play-offs and Holloway isn’t confident they can do it on current form.
"We were atrocious. We didn’t do anything we’d practiced. It was one of the worst performances I’ve ever had on one of the biggest days,” he said, referring to the collapse at Grimsby.
"Yes we had some injuries but we got outplayed, outfought. It was absolutely gutless and not one person picked up anybody else and drove them on to do anything to make a difference.
"We have got one hell of a week in front of us, because to get in the play-offs is the minimum goal, and (after Saturday), how can you be optimistic?”
Swindon beat Chesterfield 2-1 at the SMH in November at a time when they were pushing at the top.
For a club that has had eyes its on automatic, any finish outside the top seven would be a failure.
"We just lost a game 4-0 which could have sorted us for the play-offs,” added Holloway.
"There has been a loss of confidence and a loss of bits and pieces.
"We're not cutting it, we're not good enough, and I take full responsibility for that, like I always have and like I always will.
"If you go into the play-offs you need a bit about you. You need momentum, fighting spirit and we look bereft of it.
"We have 90 minutes to save our season and that is looking desperate right now.”
Despite the gloom, the 63-year-old boss will dip into all his vast managerial experience to get Swindon back on it for Saturday’s winner-takes-all clash with the Spireites.
He added: "At the end of the season we’ll sit down and see where everybody is and what we need to do and what the club needs to do but at the moment I’m trying to get us going for another big match.
“We have to dust ourselves down and try and get it right for Chesterfield.”