KEVIN Amankwaah has spent the majority of this season having to watch Swindon’s plight from the bench but he is now determined to play his part in a bid for survival after forcing his way back into the first team.

The 28-year-old Londoner made his first start in over a month as Town produced their best performance under Paul Hart in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

Having been a vital part of the side that reached the play-offs last year, Amankwaah has found himself a bit-part player this time round.

However, the defender certainly earned his place in the first 11 against the Seagulls and is likely to start once again against Exeter tonight. And Amankwaah has no intention of returning to the sidelines for Town's relegation run-in.

“My aim now is to cement myself back in the starting 11,” he told the Advertiser. “I haven't been involved as much as I would have liked to this season, so I am hoping this is the start of a long run for me.

“I want to be involved in the team and help in the fight against relegation so we can stay safe.”

Amankwaah could count himself unlucky to be on the losing side at the weekend, with Brighton twice awarded a spot kick while Town had two plausible penalty appeals of their own waved away.

“If their penalty was a soft one then ours should have been given as well because it was exactly the same,” he added.

“I heard the ref saying he would not give 50-50s but he did for them. It was harsh I felt and we were unlucky.

“It was a disappointing result but I think the lads can hold their heads up because it was a good performance against the side at the top of the table.

“We had quite a few chances to go ahead in the game and to get hit by the suckerpunch of a second goal was a real kick in the teeth.”

Despite Saturday’s disappointment, Amankwaah has little doubt that a similar performance against Exeter tonight will see Town record their first victory at the 17th attempt.

He said: “If we go there and play as we did against Brighton then I am confident that we can get the win.”