Holloway happy with Town's opening pre-season display at Supermarine

Boss Ian Holloway believed there was a “brightness and a sharpness” about Swindon Town as they overcame neighbours Swindon Supermarine in their first pre-season friendly.

Botan Ameen struck twice in the opening half for Holloway’s side at Webbswood Stadium, before Town switched their XI after the break.

Harry Smith and new signing Jake Tabor both got on the scoresheet in the second period, to give the visitors a 4-0 victory and a performance Holloway was happy with.

"It is a settling-in thing, and there was a brightness and a sharpness about us,” he said.

"It could be brighter and it could be sharper, but further on down the line it will be.

"The day itself has been excellent. This is the first time I have been to Supermarine, and it is an outstanding facility. It was a pleasure to meet everybody here.

"There were so many of our fans here, as well as Supermarine fans, so, overall, I am delighted."

Four goals to begin pre-season at Supermarine ?? pic.twitter.com/l6eKSFExU5

— Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) July 5, 2025

This pre-season mark’s Holloway’s first at Swindon since he stepped into the job last October, guiding them away from relegation trouble to record a 12th-placed League Two finish last term.

And the 62-year-old outlined some fundamentals he wanted to see from his players ahead of kick-off at Supermarine.

“I wanted us to get some basic principles into the lads, where, if we lose the ball then we all win it back within six seconds.

“We try and press to get it back, and then, without the ball, every time it gets towards someone else, can we get to them to stop them playing forward within four seconds.

"We didn't know how they would play or what shape they were, and that made it a bit more difficult, but I thoroughly enjoyed the breakdown of it with what we tried to do.”

Next up for Town is a trip to Melksham on Saturday.