Having taken the lead through a well worked Martin Rowlands goal in the opening minutes, Rangers continued to create goal-scoring opportunities throughout the match, but were held to just the single goal by a formidable Swindon Town.
The Rangers manager was ecstatic, despite having to endure over 90 minutes hanging on to the slenderest of leads, which has played against Rangers in recent weeks.
“To tell you the truth I’d be a lot happier if we had got that second goal. The enormity of them scoring an equaliser was really playing on my mind.
“However, with five or six minutes to go I had no doubt that we were going to keep a clean sheet.
“We have got one thing to do now – go to Hillsborough and win. I firmly believe that we are going to do it.”
It was a tense finish to a great game of football, an arm wrestle which Rangers eventually won. And with two of the leagues top scorers amongst Swindon’s artillery, the Rangers boss was most pleased of his side resilience under pressure.
“Their goal scorers have scored more than our goal scorers – so Swindon had it in them. But the boys at the back really did their job today.”
And it was an emotional Ian Holloway who was looking forward to going to Sheffield Wednesday next weekend with his side’s destiny now in their hands.
“Whatever happens in my life – I will never forget today – the noise was just magnificent. Today was a big, big result for us.
“I’m so proud of my involvement with this place. What a set of people and what an achievement it will be when we finally achieve promotion – whenever that is.”