We've got one foot in the door - Di Canio (From Swindon Advertiser)

We've got one foot in the door - Di Canio

8:00am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in STFC News By Gary Rose

PAOLO Di Canio has dismissed the notion that tonight’s second leg match of Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area final is finely poised, and instead believes Swindon have the quality to be able to see off Barnet and secure their place at Wembley.

Town take on the Bees at the County Ground with scores level after the two sides drew 1-1 at Underhill last month.

The Robins are 14 places above Barnet in the League Two standings but the latter’s recent form belies their lowly position, with Lawrie Sanchez’s men having won their last three successive games.

But while their form may have picked up, Di Canio believes it will be down to how Swindon play tonight to determine which side will come away with a victory and take their place in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint trophy.

“We have one foot at Wembley but whether we go there depends on us, because we are a better side than Barnet. We have to be honest,” he said.

“I am not the type of manager to say that it is 50-50, it is not 50-50. Obviously in 90 minutes we can lose even against a Conference side, but at the moment we are much better than Barnet, that is what the last five games say.

“Barnet have won their last three games in a row while we have won our last five, but we have been in a good moment for the last three months, they have been in a good moment for only the last two or three weeks.”

Having never been to Wembley as a player, Di Canio outlined his intent to win the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy right from the outset.

Many other teams choose not to take the competition too seriously, but Di Canio has treat every game as though it is as important as any other.

“Someone maybe thought at the time that I was mad because we were in a bad position in the league and we were not getting good results,” he added.

“You have to be realistic in life but I believe that if you work hard and you have desire then you can achieve something that some people might not expect.

“I never underestimated this competition because other than winning promotion it is the only one that realistically gives you the opportunity to win something.”

Given the distance between the two sides in the league, it would be easy for the players to become complacent and assume that their place in the final is already a given.

However, Di Canio is confident that has not been the case with his players, adding: “The players know subconsciously that if we lose then they do not have the chance to go to Wembley. The dream finishes.

“It will be very tough because Barnet have a physical presence, especially when they have set pieces, but we want to play our football and we want to win.

“If we play like we did at Southend, with a nasty attitude and with a determination and desire and concentrate on the small details, then we will win the game.”

Di Canio will be forced to make changes to his side from the one that beat Southend 4-1 last time out, with winger Luke Rooney and striker Billy Bodin ineligible having already played in the competition for Gillingham and Torquay respectively.

Aden Flint (groin) remains a long-term injury but otherwise Di Canio has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Di Canio was keeping thoughts on team selection close to his chest, but did confirm that Phil Smith - penalty hero against AFC Wimbledon earlier in the competion - will be included on the bench.