MIDFIELDER Donal McDermott insists he and his Swindon Town team-mates are fully aware of the precarious situation they are in after drawing 0-0 at home to Carlisle United.

The draw, which is their third in a row, has seen Town remain in ninth, with just two points separating them from the League Two play-off spots.

With five games to go and a record of three draws and a defeat in their last four games, the pressure has been ramped up yet again on Phil Brown’s troops as they look for a late surge to get into the top seven.

But with 15 points to play for, 28-year-old McDermott says it is still in Swindon’s hands.

“We got a clean sheet, which is obviously what the manager has been looking for, that is the main thing,” he said.

“There was a lot of possession and chances, but it was just that final bit – we need to start winning games now.

“It’s difficult because we can do it on the training pitch, but we need to do it on game day. If we keep having that many chances, and that many crosses, it will come eventually.

“The manager is trying to take the pressure off, but we all know what the craic is, these games are must-win games. To me they are anyway.

“I would say, 100 per cent, the last two draws would have been losses a few months ago but it isn’t about going out and not losing games, we need to be winning games.

“In the final third, we have the licence to do what we want. We do have that defensive base now, and we just need to kick on.”

On Saturday, McDermott was thrown into the action much earlier than he would have expected, as Kellan Gordon was forced off with a dislocated shoulder in the opening minutes.

McDermott has recently recovered from a lengthy lay-off of his own, and admits it was a tough shift against United.

“You are always prepared. I literally just sat down and started to put my shin pads on, but you have to be ready and do your best when you’re on the pitch,” he said.

“In the last two games, I have come on after having quite a long time out. I don’t know how to assess my performances, that is for other people to do. I just try to do my best for the team.

“I’ve not really had too many injuries in the past. For a player like me, I need to be playing regularly, but that is football. I am happy to be back involved.”