MIDFIELDER Ellis Iandolo says a strong bond away from the pitch has helped Swindon Town perform well on in.

Iandolo was one of the few players to remain from last season’s collection of players with more than 10 new arrivals at the Energy Check County Ground.

The 21-year-old is currently the club’s longest serving player after signing in July 2015.

After assessing the influx of players and the new management team, the midfielder says this is the best team spirit he has experienced during his three-year stay.

“It’s been a strange three or four seasons,” he said. “This season has definitely been the biggest change in players and staff coming in.

“I would also say this is the best team spirit and the way the club is run, that’s very pleasing to me.

“I wouldn’t say there is anything in particular that has brought us together but everyone gets on well.

“There are no groups, there is no-one who doesn’t fit in. We go out and do stuff off the pitch and I think that’s started to show on it.”

The youngster hasn’t featured prominently for Phil Brown’s side so far this term, with three substitute appearances in League Two so far amounting to just under 30 minutes on the field.

However, as Town prepare to face Newport County in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight, he is hoping to seize his chance to impress the boss.

The former Maidstone United man believes that not only is the cup contest a good chance to get some minutes for himself, but the other players on the periphery will benefit too.

With a five-game unbeaten run, the Town man believes there are plenty of reasons to go all out for the home win.

“I think these games are important to all of the boys who aren’t getting regular Saturday football,” added Iandolo, who reckons he has performed well when given the opportunity from the bench.

“It gives us a chance to break into the team and show the manager that we are on standby for the league games, the big games.

“At the end of the day it is a cup game, we want to win every game so we are going out there to get a result, that would keep the run on the go. We are unbeaten in five games now, so we want to keep the winning mentality going.

"Also to keep these going for fringe players such as myself, we can try to go as far as we can.

“It (a small crowd) isn’t what you want but it is still a competitive game of football regardless of the crowd. You go out there and you give everything that you have that is the only thing you can really do as a footballer.

“In the last three games I think I have done well every time that I have come on there isn’t much you can do other than come on and try to make an impact.”