Karl Robinson hails Salford spirit as Ian Holloway fumes over Swindon ‘garbage’

Karl Robinson was delighted Salford did the double over high-fliers Swindon in a five-goal thriller that puts them level in the table.

Kallum Cesay’s winner edged the match, days ahead of Tuesday’s FA Cup showdown to decide who takes on Manchester City at the Etihad.

Robinson said: “On Tuesday I think the handbrake will come off. We will both have a right good go at it. It’s a game of footy. I love it, so we look forward to a challenge.”

Robinson said he had been baffled by the many formation changes made by Ian Holloway and joked, “I’m going to try and do even more” in the rematch.

He said: “It’s good. I love it, because when you know managers have managed at an awful lot higher, it was a real challenge for us on our bench.

“I think it was two really good teams playing today, a real honest effort.”

Ryan Graydon should have opened the scoring with a near-post header but glanced across the face of the Town goal from Luke Garbutt’s cross.

Oliver Turton made no mistake with a glancing header from Garbutt‘s corner to put the Ammies ahead in the 24th minute.

Seven minutes later, a patient build-up saw Graydon tee up Kelly N’Mai in the box to score.

Town halved the deficit as Joel McGregor’s deft near-post header dropped in at the far post.

City’s Jorge Grant then hit the crossbar with his inswinging corner.

When Connor Ripley botched a clearance after rushing out of his box, Graydon fluffed a golden chance to restore the two-goal cushion.

After the break, Matthew Young punched away a Gavin Kilkenny effort from outside the box.

Salford made it three in the 72nd minute when Daniel Udoh squared for Cesay to tuck away.

Aaron Drinan’s header from Fletcher Holman’s cross gave Swindon hope but Salford held on.

Holloway was left fuming at his side’s display. He said: “They out-thought and out-fought us in the first half, and the second goal just sums it.

I’ve just watched it back. I’m just gonna have to go back in there and rip their heads off.

“That’s absolute garbage. And I’m blaming myself.

“I wish I’d put three up front against them and turned them and pushed one of my back three in, but I’ve got a couple of days before I can try it again.

“But they’ve taken six points off of us. Well done to them. I’m absolutely livid with my team, with their lack of oomph.

“Now we’ve got to do better against other teams than they do, otherwise they’ll catch us, go past us, so that’s a big blow and a massive step forward for them.”