THE local media will be praying for a Swindon Town smash-and-grab over Christmas, after manager Paolo Di Canio promised to take the press out for a meal if his team ever emerged with all three points from a game in which they were totally outplayed.

The Italian’s comments came after watching his Robins utterly dominate Doncaster at the County Ground without finding the clinical edge in front of goal to secure their first League One victory in three matches.

Having watched videos of every other team in the division, Di Canio has yet to see anyone create as many chances as his Town side manage on a regular basis.

And therefore he made the pledge to wine and dine Swindon’s journalists in the event his players sneak a result in nigh-on impossible circumstances.

“The first day that we are going to win when the opponents are on top of us I will pay for dinner for all of you,” he said.

“When we score one goal and the opponents have 68 balls in our box. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it’s never going to happen.

“Our system never gives any chances to the opponents to batter us. Not one opponent, only Preston because we went mad after the Stoke City game. Otherwise it’s 50-50, maybe one chance more to the opponents.

“In any of the other games I haven’t seen any team dominate.

They have scored four goals, but with five chances. Sheffield United and Preston have scored five goals with five chances.

“That still drives me crazy a bit but I know now I have to accept it and work hard because I don’t give up.

“I want to have a better than decent season. I want to finish top eight, if it’s not possible then top 10 will be good.”