WHEREVER Swindon Town find themselves in League One at Christmas, manager Paolo Di Canio has insisted that the first half of the 2012/13 season will have been “fantastic” for the Robins.

Town can climb into fifth spot in the table, and cut the gap to the top two to just two points, with victory over leaders Tranmere at the County Ground tonight - although with the rest of the division playing tomorrow Di Canio & Co could find themselves back out of the play-off places by the time the turkeys go into the ovens next week.

However, simply being in contention to challenge for promotion in 2013 is enough for the Town boss to describe the achievements of his players and staff so far this campaign in glowing terms.

“It was the same situation this time last year. If we win we are very close there for one night but if we lose the day after we can be 11th in the table,” he said.

“I look at the positives. If we win we are there, if we draw we stay close. There is a balance.

“There is not a team now apart from Bournemouth, with seven wins in their last 10 games, who have a very good moment. Maybe Coventry too.

“We want to stay close there because after Friday we are halfway to go.

“Forget sixth, seventh or 10th, because it can make a difference in your eyes. Even at worst, if we are eighth or 10th in the table but three or four points from the play-offs that is a really good result because of what has happened this year.

“People think it’s normal, but it’s not normal. A new chairman, change of dynamics, an embargo for two months in the moment we had a bad injury crisis. It’s not easy.

“But thinking about what’s happened it’s been a fantastic result. Not good, a fantastic result we have done.

“We want to do super fantastic. We have to recognise that at worst we have done a fantastic job.”