PAOLO Di Canio was happy to see Swindon navigate a potential banana skin on Saturday as they were held to their first draw in League Two this year, by Bristol Rovers.

It has been a long time since Town fans have seen their side fail to collect three points at the County Ground, with Bradford City the last team to leave with a share of the spoils back at the end of October.

After a disappointing performance in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, Di Canio was hoping for a positive response from his players.

They certainly gave him that, with the Robins dominant for at least an hour of the encounter, but they were unable to find a breakthrough and had to settle for a point.

“The first half was the best first half of the season. We absolutely dominated and we created seven or eight chances,” reflected Di Canio.

“I told my players the most dangerous game of the day was our game. Bristol Rovers have many reasons to come here and maybe be a banana skin.

“By the end we lost a lot of energy because we had such a fantastic first half. Obviously we prefer to win but if we play like this we will win more than we lose.

“I have told them to keep going and don’t lose the belief.”

Recognising the dominant, physical presence of a number of the Rovers’ players, Di Canio opted to bring Aden Flint back into the heart of the defence.

In attack, Paul Benson – who had picked up a minor neck injury during the week – was named on the bench, with Alan Connell partnering Ronan Murray.

The home side had Bristol Rovers on the back foot from the outset as Jonathan Smith shot straight at Scott Bevan, before Connell curled an effort into the hands of the Rovers’ keeper.

Matt Ritchie, meanwhile, was looking back to his best with the winger enjoying the rare luxury of not being double marked.

He had a great chance midway through the first half when he stole possession from a defender and ran into the area but was denied getting a shot on target by a great covering challenge just as he was about to pull the trigger.

But the best chance of the half was to come five minutes before the break. Ritchie did well to keep the ball in play down the right and he sent the ball across the face of goal towards the far post to the waiting Connell.

The striker was unmarked two yards out from goal but he was unable to get his foot around the ball properly and compounded to poke a shot onto the underside of the crossbar before Rovers’ cleared.

Town picked up from where they had left off in the second half and for the first 15 minutes they were well on top.

Murray, who had found it difficult to make an impression against Rovers’ tall back line, looped a header that was easily saved by Bevan, before Connell muscled his way into the area but his shot at the near post was pushed away by the visiting keeper.

Di Canio brought on Luke Rooney for Ritchie, who had picked up a slight injury in the first half, and then Benson for Connell to try and carve out an opening.

Benson went close when he directed a diving header just wide of the upright, while Rovers enjoyed a rare moment of possession in the latter stages but were let down by their finishing, as Matt Harrold shot straight at Wes Foderingham while former Town youth team player Chris Zebroski fired over the bar.

It was the second time this season Town have failed to get the better of Rovers and was another derby match where Swindon were unable to come away with the bragging rights.

But Di Canio was philosophical afterwards and is now looking to tomorrow’s game against Barnet as a chance to put further daylight between Town and the chasing pack.

“We can’t win every game,” he said. “We are still top of the league and we have two games in hand on Torquay.

“They gave everything and I can’t ask for much more than that. We have a big chance on Tuesday to extend the gap because the Barnet game is a bonus game, with no other teams playing, so I am very happy.”