JOE Devera is confident promotion is now just around the corner after Swindon overcame near rivals Cheltenham 1-0 on Saturday.

Town rode their luck at times in arguably one of their toughest games of the year, but the form of Wes Foderingham and Paul Benson helped them do enough to pick up three crucial points.

Foderingham first denied Darryl Duffy from the penalty spot before then making a number of key saves through the game, while Benson’s fifth goal in as many games sealed victory.

“That was probably our biggest game of the season and it was a massive win for us,” said Devera. “We probably only need three or four more to seal promotion.

“I don’t see another team who work as hard as ours. Every player works for each other. It was tough on Saturday to keep a clean sheet but Wes did very well to save the penalty and we stuck it out.”

Devera has been as important as any player in Town’s superb form throughout 2012 and he was again impressive in repelling as many Cheltenham attacks as possible at the weekend.

The former Barnet stopper has proven time and again he is quite literally prepared to put his head on the line for the Town cause, and his latest display of commitment saw him needing a number of stitches after a late clash of heads.

“I took a knock in the last couple of minutes and I had to have about six stitches,” he added. “I didn’t really know what had happened and it was a blackout for me.

“I remember going up for the header and then going down the tunnel after the end, but I am just glad we got the win.”

Having regularly been partnered with Alan McCormack since stepping in for the injured Aden Flint, Devera was alongside Oliver Risser at the centre of defence against Cheltenham.

“Oliver Risser fitted in well and put in a good shift for the team,” he said.

“But we all put in a good shift I think and we hung in together to get the points.”