CALVIN Andrew conceded he is finding playing as a lone striker ‘ridiculously tough’ but is happy to continue to perform in that role if it achieves results for Swindon.

The 24-year-old is more accustomed to lining up alongside a partner in attack, but has been employed as the spearhead of a front three since moving to Town on loan last month.

As a result Andrew has often found himself isolated, particularly when the Robins come under pressure from their opponents, and consequently goal scoring chances for the big striker have been hard to come by.

But he got his first goal for the club on Saturday with a superb left-foot shot from 20 yards at Brentford and he could count himself unlucky not to have got a second soon after when a long-range effort grazed the bar.

And while having to lead the line alone is not his preferred role, he understands Town boss Paul Hart’s reasoning.

“I can stand here and say that it is not that hard, but it is a ridiculously tough job,” said the former Luton trainee. “Paul Hart believes in me and knows I am capable of doing it, I did it at Palace towards the end of last season and it got results then. It is a graft, but that is what I get paid for.

“(Playing with a strike partner) does help because you can share the workload, but we are much more defensively sound in this formation and it means we are not going to concede. I am always going to create chances, so I just have to take them.”

The mixture of relief and joy was clear to see on the players’ faces after Saturday’s game and no-one sported a bigger smile when leaving the pitch than Andrew.

“You saw what it meant to the boys, the fans and to the manager,” he added. “You get your first win and it lifts everything and mentality goes right up so training will be fun this week and we go into Saturday’s game raring to go.

“I want to give my best for any team I play for. It is important to give your all. As a football fan myself if I was watching I would want to see the players trying and giving 110 per cent, that is what it is about. If you can go and do that and you have ability, then everyone will love you.”