SWINDON Town captain Dion Conroy believes his long-standing relationship with fellow defender Mathieu Baudry has allowed both to blossom in recent weeks.

Conroy and Baudry have been highly-important factors in Swindon’s five-match winning run which sees the club on the precipice of a trip to Wembley for the League Two play-off final.

The love both Conroy and Baudry are currently feeling has not always been present – there were calls for the Town captain to be dropped following a loss of form earlier in the season.

However, the 26-year-old has shown tremendous strength of character to bounce back from a minor injury and some inconsistent form and become a vital cog in the Swindon defence.

Conroy said: “We’ve been playing well; I think we’ve been playing well all season.

“There have obviously been a few games where we’ve slipped up as a team, but on the whole I think we’ve defended really well all season.

“It’s been tough losing key players at the back throughout the season and trying to adjust to new players, and forming relationships takes time.

“Me and Frenchy (Mathieu Baudry) have known each other for a few years now so the chemistry is just there, and I think it’s showed. We’re looking forward to Thursday (against Port Vale) now.”

Town head to Vale Park with a one-goal advantage and plenty of lessons learned from Sunday’s physical battle at the County Ground.

Referee Ross Joyce failed to punish a number of early fouls from Darrell Clarke’s side before aggravating the home crowd by booking a Town player first.

If Swindon are to complete their target of reaching the play-off final, keeping a cool head will be key should Vale’s physical style be in operation once again.

Asked if it is difficult to remain composed when fouls are not being punished as they should be, Conroy said: “Not really for me.

“I think I’m quite level-headed, I don’t get caught up in the antics and the petty stuff when the fouls are coming in and the crowd is going.

“I think it’s good that me and Frenchy can keep the composure at the back to make sure no one is over-reacting and getting silly bookings.

“I think that comes naturally to me and a few of the other boys, so that helps the other boys relax. Hopefully, we’ll be alright on Thursday, and we’ll be competing.

“But it’s about having that composure, when we’ve won the first ball, to be find that right pass before exploiting the areas that we need to.”