PAOLO Di Canio believes Swindon are firmly on course to prove that it is possible to play football the right way in League Two and still secure promotion after Town strengthened their place at the top of the standings with a win over Cheltenham at the weekend.

From the moment he was appointed, Di Canio spoke of his intent to craft a side capable of playing a style of football that is rarely associated with the basement division, and still finish inside the top three.

Town were far from at their best against Cheltenham on Saturday but did enough to secure the points courtesy of Paul Benson’s 10th strike of the season.

But, on the whole, Swindon have played some fine football this season and Di Canio is happy that his pre-season prediction looks set to be proved correct.

“We have to guarantee promotion first and then we can start thinking about finishing top because we want to prove that what we said at the beginning of the season – that by playing football on the ground a team can win this league,” said the Town boss.

“I want for us to be able to say at the end that we have done something different than many other clubs at the level because we will win the league by playing football.

“If we can get another two wins from our next two games and still be nine points clear with eight games to go and a game in hand over others, we would have to kill ourselves to not go up.”

The quality throughout Town’s squad is now coming to the fore, with Saturday proving they have match winners all over the pitch - even when some of their best players are having an off day.

Denied the services of injured captain Paul Caddis and with wingers Matt Ritchie and Luke Rooney not at their best, it was down to goalkeeper Wes Foderingham to step up to the plate and put in a man of the match performance to help Town pick up three points once again.

“The difference between us and the others is that we have quality throughout our squad. It is important for me to have all around the field at least seven or eight players who can play football,” added Di Canio.

“You look at the other teams, how many have they got? Cheltenham have Marlon Pack but otherwise it is just ‘boom, boom, boom’ long ball football.

“They didn’t get any points on Saturday because perhaps they did not have three or four players who have the quality to play football.

“If I had the chance to have the squad I have now from the very start of the season I believe we would be 20 points clear, not just nine and we would win this league by breaking many records.”