AFTER witnessing his side lose 2-0 away to Hull City on Tuesday night, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert said, “I’ve told the players, they’ve got 13 cup finals – that’s how they have to look at it.”

Despite Swindon being involved in a promotion race, those exact words should be pinned up inside their dressing room too.

Town have 17 cup finals to achieve the unthinkable at the start of the season – promotion into the Championship.

During this campaign Town has built its success on young professionals. At times Andy Williams, at the ripe old age of 28, has been the club’s oldest player.

It’s been a breath of fresh air to see players who were sold on or released by much bigger clubs making a statement by proving they have what it takes to make it in the game.

But as Town head into one of the most important periods in the club’s history – and attempt to make it back into the second tier of English football for the first time in 15 years – wouldn’t the experience of some older pros and wiser heads be invaluable?

Wade Elliot at Bristol City, Keith Andrews at Milton Keynes, John Welsh at Preston North End – all these guys will prove vital to their sides.

Swindon has no one with that level of experience to call on this season and how the club uses the loan window in the coming weeks will become even more important as fixtures start to pile up.

From February 21, in three of the next four weeks, Town will be playing two games a week, something that players are used to at this time of the year.

But with the possibility of injuries and suspensions, at least one more new face at the heart of defence is needed.

Only having four guys covering such an important part of the side is worrying going into such a busy run of games.

The opportunity of achieving an automatic promotion place in League One has only been seen twice at Town in the past 19 years, in 1996 when it was achieved under Steve McMahon, and in 2010, when Danny Wilson’s side bottled it.

However, stand by for one of the most exciting finales in the club’s 136-year history.