SPEAKING about playing in the big games, Johan Cruyff said: “... it might be the biggest experience of your life, so why be sad and be fearful? Be happy, express yourself and play. Make it special for you and everyone watching.”

Simple words from a brilliant player who was never afraid of expressing himself. But even words as simple as these could be hard for Town to remember this Sunday.

Even the legion of former-Swindon players interviewed this week have said something similar: ‘ignore the hype, play your game’. But Town do have a lot to ignore: the bookies’ odds, the crowd, the flat Wembley atmosphere and the prize of promotion.

They also have to ignore us, the fans and our nerves. Even now the butterflies are somersaulting in stomachs across the town, and we don’t have to play. We only have to master a train journey with four changes of bus. But, a footballer, says the great Argentine coach Cesar Luis Menotti, is “a privileged interpreter of the dreams of many people”. And since the first match of the season, this wonderful Town team has made those dreams vivid indeed.

Swindon have to play their own bold football precisely because it will give them the best chance of winning. Town fans of every stripe - ‘hardcore’ to ‘day-tripper’ – need to see the players’ pride in their own ability, their bravery with the ball and their guile which has shown that money doesn’t always equate success. The defensive imbalance against Sheffield United was obvious but Town do seem to be again in a phase where they are able to express themselves, with Ben Gladwin pivotal and Yaser Kasim once more imperious.

Preston would dearly love to make this a scrap. With the likes Joe Garner and Kevin Davies, their players hugely skilled at fighting, feinting and a little faking. They also have the free-kicks of Paul Gallagher to convert any ‘fouls’ into assists. Something that he has already done 17 times this season.

But it is their caution, their manager’s conservatism, and desire to play through counter-attacks which betrays that they are the ones who are sad and fearful, and Town should be able to play on that. However, if Swindon can’t quite manage to heed Cruyff, perhaps they could remember a simpler version from boxer Mike Tyson: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.