Swindon midfielder Jon-Paul McGovern believes it is vital that the Robins start Saturday’s League One play-off final with Millwall in the right frame of mind and play their own game (Swindon 5/4 – to be promoted).
The Wiltshire club face the Lions (4/7 – to gain promotion) at Wembley in a winner-takes-all encounter for a place in the Championship with their 3-2 defeat to the Londoners in the final match of the season still fresh in their minds.
Swindon took an early lead in that encounter only for Millwall to net three times before Billy Paynter’s 85th-minute goal got them back to within touching distance.
Danny Wilson’s men are known for their passing ability and stylish football but McGovern feels they did not play their own game in the season finale – something he has urged his team-mates to put right this time around.
“Maybe at their place we played into their hands a little bit,” he told the Advertiser. “We never got on the ball and we didn’t do the things which we are good at.
“It’s important that we stamp our authority on the game early doors on Saturday and show everybody what a good passing side we are.”
Paynter has scored 29 goals prior to the final with strike partner Charlie Austin netting 20 times this term and Swindon will look to those two for the goals that could secure a place in the second tier of English football by Saturday evening.
McGovern is aware of the importance of the strike duo but was quick to praise Wilson for the way he has guided the side to the brink of glory this season.
He added: “Everyone talks about Billy and Charlie and the goals they have scored, but as a team it has been fantastic and a lot of that is down to the manager and his assistant.”
There are plenty of betting opportunities for Saturday’s final with first goal-scorer always a popular bet.
Austin and Paynter are both on offer at 6/1 to score first wit the same price available for either of the pair to be the last goal-scorer as well.
Millwall’s Steve Morison is the 4/1 favourite to score first at Wembley, with team-mates Neil Harris and Gary Alexander trading at 5/1 and 6/1 respectively.
Both clubs know the rewards on offer for promotion to the Championship, having seen how a small club like Blackpool can defy the odds and reach the promised land of the Premiership.
ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.