LUKE Norris has called on Swindon Town to hold firm through the next couple of months so the foundations of a push for League Two promotion can be laid.

Two wins and a draw in their last three league matches have taken David Flitcroft’s men up into the play-off positions and just five points behind pace-setters Notts County at the top of the table.

With three of their next four matches away from home, starting at Yeovil this weekend, Town will be hoping to maintain the form that has seen them win six of eight on the road so far and cement their standing among the contenders in the lead-up to the Christmas.

And while comfortable with their current status in the division, Norris says upcoming matches must pave the way for an assault on honours later in the campaign.

“You always say that if you average two points a game you’ll go up,” said the nine-goal man.

“(After) the start to the season we had, I think we’ve come on very well from there and come the turn of the year and Christmas-time, I think we can really cement that top end and then you have really got to kick on because you could be right up there until February and then someone goes on a run.

“You’ve just got to stay in and around it and not drop away.’’ Whatever the outcome, Norris admits Town’s current progress is a far cry from the haunted squad of players who took part in last season’s ill-fated League One campaign.

“Everyone has been in struggling teams and teams playing well up near the top of the table, I know full well where I would rather be,’’ he added.

“Such a big side of football is mental. There is big mental pressure on everyone and it’s just so much easier when you look at the table and you’re in and around that top area, rather than looking over your shoulder at the other end.

“Everyone enjoys their football, the training is more enjoyable because we know we’re in a good position.’’ The mentality fact is something Norris believes has been driven by his new manager.

“The simple thing he (Flitcroft) has drilled into everybody is that come Saturday at three o’clock it’s about the win,’’ he said. “I don’t care if it’s the ugliest game of football and we win 1-0. As long as come 5pm we’ve got the points, all they (supporters) will remember is we got a win.

“He’s tried to drill that into us where you’d do anything to win the game. If it takes doing something else we’re not used to and we win the game out of it, so be it. It’s a real winning formula.”