SWINDON Town’s victory at Bramall Lane last week proved many things.

Most important among those things is that there is absolutely no reason why they cannot do the same or better when they meet United again at the County Ground tonight.

After a judder early on in last week’s outing, Town soon found the form which has delighted fans time and time again. They earned every decibel of the ecstatic reaction many times over.

Manager Mark Cooper wisely acknowledged afterwards: “We know we have got a remarkably tough game to come at home against a really good team against some really good players and we know we have to be on our guard.”

All of this is, of course, true, but the young side is nevertheless clearly talented enough, hungry enough and determined enough to meet not just this play-off challenge but also the fresh challenges opened up by victory.

Town are not just physically equipped but also psychologically equipped to face the meeting at the County Ground. The know enough to respect the opposition and be wary of it, but not to be daunted.

Much of that psychological advantage, as ever, is down to the fans who turn up in all weathers, week after week and match after match. Town’s fanbase has been among the most loyal in the country for as long as anybody can remember, and has seen the side through both triumphs and the exact opposite of triumph.

No doubt that unshakeable loyalty will be much in evidence at the County Ground tonight, and long may it continue.

Town has seen its share of bad times in the past, but without them the good times, such as the current one, wouldn’t taste anywhere near as sweet.

They meet Sheffield United tonight with the best wishes of tens of thousands of people.