THE way Stephen Darby stepped up to slot home Town’s winning penalty last night, you would think he had been taking them all his life.

The Liverpool loanee had the coolest head inside a ridiculously-tense Valley as he calmly side-footed his effort into the bottom corner to secure Swindon’s trip to Wembley for the League One play-off final at Charlton’s expense.

And Darby then revealed he only volunteered for the fifth spot-kick because no-one else wanted to take it!

“I don’t normally take them, but there were four names down and we needed another one, so I put my name forward,” he told the Advertiser.

“It was a great feeling to see it go in. I’m absolutely delighted and made up for the lads. We showed some great character out there and got our rewards.

“To lose the lead and have a man sent off we could have crumbled, but we stuck in together and thankfully we are through.

“A couple of things didn’t go for us from the very first minute, but we showed some great character, worked so hard together and done well.

“We looked really good on the break. Everyone played really well and even when we went down to 10 men we thought we could nick it.”

The right-back now has his sights set on Town’s Wembley final on Saturday, May 29, and doesn’t mind if they end up facing Millwall or Huddersfield.

“It was a massive game, the pressure the lads were under was immense, and we’ve come through it,” he said.

“This win means everything to me and to the lads and you could see that just by the way we were all celebrating at the end.

“Now we get to play at Wembley and that will mean everything to me, but it will also mean the same to the lads, the fans, the coaching staff, the whole club.

“It’s going to be a great day out. Both teams (Millwall and Huddersfield) are great sides and whoever gets through to the final will make it very tough for us, but we’ve got a great squad and great team here and will be confident going into the final.

“However, we’ve got to remember that we’ve got one game left. It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to be confident.”

  • DANNY Wilson had no complaints with captain Gordon Greer’s sending off at The Valley last night.

The centre-back was handed a straight red card for a follow through on Deon Burton midway through the second half, meaning he will miss Town’s League One play-off final against either Millwall or Huddersfield at the end of this month.

But, while Swindon’s squad were angry at Greer’s dismissal, Wilson felt he could not defend his skipper.

“If I’m honest there was no argument,” he said.

“Gordon’s put his foot up and he’s followed through.

“I don’t think the referee had a choice. When it happened we thought it might be a sending-off.

“He’s had a tremendous season, and Wembley would have been the icing on the cake for him. But sometimes when you make decisions you have to fall by them at times, and that’s what’s happened to Gordon.”

Despite losing 2-1 on the night, Town triumphed 5-4 on penalties to book their place at Wembley, and Wilson had a word of sympathy for Charlton captain Nicky Bailey, who missed their second penalty.

“From the penalties it’s anybody’s, and you feel so sorry for anyone who misses.

“At this moment in time I feel sorry for Phil (Parkinson, Charlton manager) and for the lad Bailey.

“In my opinion he is one of the best midfielders in this division and it will be heartbreaking for him because he’s had a great season.”