YOU could perhaps forgive the average Swindon Town fan for feeling a bit of hope at 5pm on Saturday.

As early as a fortnight ago, Swindon’s hopes of reaching the League Two play-offs appeared to be fading fast – defeat to Grimsby Town followed by three draws over the festive period and a New Year’s Day loss at home to Exeter City reduced morale on the terraces at the Energy Check County Ground.

But a hardy few hundred supporters made the lengthy trip north to Tranmere Rovers this weekend, and were rewarded with a second successive away win and a third match where points were secured.

Suddenly, the rollercoaster ride that comes with being a Town fan is starting to head onwards and upwards.

Bookmakers have halved the odds on promotion in the space of a week, new playing partnerships have been formed and a second successive league win away from home has been recorded for the first time since September.

Add to that the addition of Peter Shirtliff as first-team coach, plus the signings of two-time League Two title winner Danny Rose and robust defender Tom Broadbent, there is plenty to be cheerful about – despite the club’s position in the middle of the lowest tier of the Football League, but that is hardly Richie Wellens’ problem.

But he’s made it his problem, and has – no doubt – transformed the squad that we became familiar with throughout September and October.

If it was common knowledge in August that Steven Alzate and Elijah Adebayo were to head back to their parent clubs in January, there would be cause for concern.

Add the ongoing uncertainty regarding County Ground favourite Sid Nelson to that equation and you’re left with a squad down to its bare bones – before the January transfer window that is.

But some smart – cost effective – business from Wellens throughout the past 21 days looks set to benefit the club long-term.

And it just so happens that the feel-good factor in the dressing room is being translated onto the pitch right now.

Of the new additions, Ali Koiki impressed most at Prenton Park – using his pace and forward-thinking mentality to open up space down the left and deliver a series of crosses in the first half amid Town’s resurgence.

Defender Broadbent rivalled the commitment displayed by Nelson, while Rose calmed the game down and took the edge off Tranmere’s game late in the second half – as did Matt Taylor, who came off the bench.

Wellens made three changes to the side that drew against league leaders Lincoln City last weekend.

Broadbent was handed his debut after signing less than 48 hours earlier, while Koiki and Michael Doughty also came in.

Taylor and Kyle Knoyle were dropped to the bench, while Ellis Iandolo and Jermaine McGlashan were left out altogether.

Marc Richards should have handed Town the lead with less than 10 minutes played when an accurate pass from Doughty met the Town striker on the edge of the penalty area.

Richards’ shot was weak, though and directed into goalkeeper Scott Davies’ gloves – a big let-off for the hosts with only eight minutes played.

Two failed crosses followed for Wellens’ men as Koiki notably delivered a well-timed pass across the face of goal, which none of Town’s attacking players got close to.

Town made up for their errors with 19 minutes played as Richards neatly deflected Koiki’s cross from the left into Davies’ bottom left corner.

The goal was a result of work from much earlier, though, as a determined Keshi Anderson sent Canic Carroll free on the right after winning possession in the penalty area.

Hesitation from Carroll led to the ball being passed wide to Koiki, whose inch-perfect cross was tapped home by Richards.

Tranmere responded with their first effort of the game as Ishmael Miller burst into the penalty area under pressure from Luke Woolfenden.

Miller’s shot was somewhat impeded by Woolfenden’s no-nonsense defending as the Tranmere forward watched his shot drift wide of Lawrence Vigouroux’s far post.

The Rovers forward was then substituted for Connor Jennings as a precaution after falling to the floor.

Swindon soon doubled their lead when Doughty latched onto the end of a loose ball as Davies’ woeful clearance was cut out by Anderson, slotting his shot into the bottom corner.

Doughty’s goal – his third in a week – prompted Rovers boss Micky Mellon to make a second change as the hosts switched to a back four, with Adam Buxton coming on for Mark Ellis.

The switches prompted no change in momentum – as far as the home side were concerned – as James Dunne benefitted from Jak McCourt’s free-kick close to the byline. However, the midfielder could only direct his shot into the hands of Davies.

The half-time whistle was met by boos from the home faithful, who were left disgruntled by their side’s below-par first-half display.

Town would be naïve and poor to not expect a reaction from Rovers in the second half.

And a reaction is exactly what they got.

The complexion of the game changed as former Town loanee Ollie Banks picked out James Norwood on the edge of Swindon’s penalty area.

The weight of the pass allowed the division’s top scorer to shoot first time on the turn, and he impressively buried his effort into Vigouroux’s bottom left corner with six minutes played in the second half.

Tranmere suddenly took control of the game and were rarely pushed back into their own half.

Jake Caprice schooled Kaiyne Woolery by placing the ball between his legs before Jennings’ effort from inside the area was blasted over Vigouroux’s crossbar.

Jennings was presented with a second chance seconds later, but his downward header trickled inches wide of Vigouroux’s far post.

Town eventually settled into the second half with 15 minutes to play and started to assert their own dominance.

McCourt was denied twice before Anderson had a low shot from outside the area blocked.

Substitutes Taylor and Rose calmed the game in midfield from there as Town registered a timely win to lift them to 11th in the table and position themselves just four points short of the play-off frame.