MATCH winner Nathan Byrne admits victory at Bramall Lane was more than Swindon Town could have imagined as the Robins hold the advantage in the League One play-offs.

Byrne’s dramatic late strike stunned hosts Sheffield United on Thursday night and gives Mark Cooper’s men a 2-1 lead to defend going into Monday’s second leg at the County Ground.

Wing-back Byrne was overjoyed Town left South Yorkshire with their noses in front but revealed they would have been more than happy to simply go home all square.

“The main thing we wanted was not to lose it,” said Byrne. “If you take a draw back, then hopefully you can open them up but the goal came at a great time and they didn’t really have a chance to get back in the game.

“It’s obviously a very tough place to come and it’s one of the toughest stadiums to play at in the league and I thought the lads were outstanding.”

Their first leg victory may have moved Town a step closer to Wembley but Byrne says there is no delusion within the camp that the job is far from complete.

A resurgent Blades will travel to Wiltshire keen for a response as the chase for the Championship heats up again.

“It’s a great feeling but we’re only halfway. Obviously the lads will be happy but we’ll be fully focused on Monday night’s game,” added Byrne.

“We’ll have recovery but Saturday and Sunday is work time again and we’re going to work as hard as we can to get it right at home.”

Byrne was one of a number of Town players given time off during the latter stages of the season with the play-offs in mind and boss Cooper believes that decision was vindicated by the result.

“I really enjoyed it and I thought it was a cracking game of football,” said Cooper. “It was two teams really going at it and I certainly don’t think the breaks that we gave the players hindered us at all, as some have alluded to.”