RELEGATION battles can have a habit of making heroes or villains of players and Mike Grella is determined to ensure his spell at Swindon Town is remembered for all the right reasons, writes GARY ROSE.

The 24-year-old American’s first taste of English football was as part of side fighting for promotion as he made prominent appearances from the bench to help Leeds United make their return to Championship last season.

Fast forward almost 12 months, however, and Grella finds himself involved in a very different battle and he and his team-mates have 11 games left to help Town retain their League One status.

“It is a high pressure situation,” the on-loan Leeds forward told the Advertiser. “Obviously I am giving it my all in every match I have played so far but in these kind of situations you can either become the villain or the hero.

“There is a long way to go I think this season and obviously there is only one way to think, which is positive.

“We have to hope that we pick up as many point between now and the end of the season. I trust in the manager and I trust in the players, so we will see.”

An already precarious situation was made even more perilous when Swindon dropped to the bottom of the standings with a 1-0 defeat to Plymouth at Home Park on Tuesday.

Despite enjoying plenty of possession it was once again that lack of a killer touch in front of goal that ultimately proved Town's undoing.

“We worked hard and played well, they scored a soft goal and we were lacking,” continued Grella.

“I don’t know how many corners we had and how many chances we had but it seemed we had a ton of half chances at the very least and if one of them did go in then obviously we would have been in better shape.”

The defeat, though, leaves Town three points behind 20th place Dagenham & Redbridge, with John Still’s men the visitors at the County Ground on Saturday.

And Grella knows only one result will do from that encounter if they are to avoid being cast further adrift from safety.

“Because we lost (to Plymouth) the Dagenham game has become a must-win game for us but I think every game from now is of massive, massive importance for us,” he added.

“We need to stay focused and stay positive. The club is under a bit of pressure, all the guys are under a bit of pressure so when things are not going well it is difficult to do the simple things.

“Nothing is over though by any means, we need to continue to work hard, keep going and pick up as many points as we can from now until the end of the season.

“We just need to do the dirty work and things will come.”