Hopes of the forbidden quadruple live on! Success in League Two, the Vertu Trophy, the Wiltshire Premier Shield and the FA Cup (in that order) remains on the cards, and there’s a very positive mood around Swindon Town.

Saturday’s gubbing of Bolton felt like a real landmark point in the season. After, Ian Holloway spoke about aiming for each game to be “better than last season”. Well, this certainly was. In fact, this was a calibre of performance and result, against higher division opposition, that we’ve not seen for many, many seasons.

Five-star league performances? Sure. Cup progression every so often? Rarely, though, it has happened. But afternoons like Saturday have been scarce in North Wiltshire since Paolo Di Canio’s tenure.

The Italian’s triumphs against first- and second-tier opposition like Wigan, Brighton, Stoke and Burnley, of course, live long in the memory, but the direct parallel for Saturday was his side’s triumph at home to Huddersfield; a League One side faring well in their league batted away with ease, thanks to a hard-working performance and a little sparkle of quality.

Drinan celebrates his hat-trick sealing goal (Image: Callum Knowles)

Wins like that can, on their own, be a landmark. Excitingly, they can also be a staging post to something bigger still - especially after receiving an eminently winnable tie with Salford in the third round draw. And cup football gives the side a chance to write some new history and be remembered fondly for a long time.

In the week that the club hosted an evening to celebrate the title winners of 2019/20, it’s very clear that Swindon’s........

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