Swindon boss Ian Holloway needed ‘ice bath’ to calm down after extra-time win

Posted Sunday, November 03, 2024 by PA

Ian Holloway admitted he needed an ice bath to contain his excitement after seeing Swindon come back to reach the FA Cup second round with a 2-1 win over Colchester.

Town looked to be heading for their customary early Cup exit after Arthur Read found Harry Anderson in space on the right and the forward burst through on goal and rifled into the far corner in the 64th minute.

But Swindon substitute Joel McGregor equalised seconds after coming on as he drove low into the far corner after Matt Macey had parried Kabongo Tshimanga’s fierce shot in the 83rd minute.

And in the 106th minute, Tshimanga’s swiveled and drilled low from close range to put Town into the next round after only managing that feat three times in 12 years.

An ecstatic Holloway said: “I need a ice bath. I need to go home and put my feet up, because the excitement I’ve got, which I haven’t had for four years, is quite incredible. And it’s no, it’s not shocking that I missed it.

“There is absolutely nothing like it. You know, even the Big Dipper at Blackpool is not as exhilarating as that. My players don’t realise how good they are.

“I am delighted. I need to cut my head off and put it in an ice bath and see if I am all right for Monday.”

U’s manager Danny Cowley said: “I don’t feel sorry for us or feel sorry for myself. I think you earn your own luck.

“And if you concede the goals that we did then you don’t deserve to win.

“It’s just as simple as that. It doesn’t matter how hard you work, how well you play and we had some good moments today, you just don’t win.”