Ian Holloway fumes as a 4-0 loss to Grimsby sees his Swindon side drop out of League Two top 7 for first time since August.
A 5am start for these fans (below) who made the journey up to Blundell Park for the 12:30pm kick off, only to watch their side get hammered.
The Mariners booked a play-off place, while for the Robins, it goes down to the final day, and who do they play? Chesterfield, who beat Crewe 2-0, and sit 6th and are a point ahead.
900 supporters set off at 5am this morning for the trip to Grimsby ahead of our early kick-off ❤️
We provided those travelling with SAS Travel and Barnes with bacon rolls for the early journey. pic.twitter.com/3WNqjgDNPH
— Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) April 25, 2026
Ian Holloway said, per Swindon Advertiser: “I’m embarrassed. That’s my team, and I didn’t recognise any of them.
“The week didn’t look like that. Yes, we had some injuries. But we got outplayed outfought, and I’m totally bereft of what to say, because it looked like they didn’t want to play.
“It looked like they couldn’t handle the situation. I knew they [Grimsby] would be buoyant because of the great run they’re on, but that’s probably the worst performance any of my teams have ever given me.
“It’s very difficult to protect myself or anybody else. So I’ve just asked them, ‘Is that what you want to show from what we’ve done this week?’
“We’ll have an interest in meeting on Monday, but it was absolutely gutless, fightless, and not one person picked up anybody else and drove them on to do anything to make a difference.
“Everything that’s been said about us, we looked just like that today.
“We have got one hell of a week in front of us, because to get in the playoffs is the minimum goal, and after today, how can you be optimistic?
“All I can do is apologise to the fans, because I can’t tell you how disappointed I am, let alone them coming all this way in their numbers and having to face that embarrassment, because my team was embarrassing.”
He continued: “We’re not cutting it, and we’re not good enough, and I take full responsibility for that, like I always have and like I always will.
“A lack of effort and a lack of work rate. I don’t think our numbers were anything like good enough today.
“The pressure of this game, even my senior ones couldn’t handle it, because of their habits aren’t good enough in communication and encouragement. The enormity of what they have to do looked like it was too much for them.
“I felt my younger ones have been showing signs of nervousness, so I tried what I know best, but we couldn’t cope with it.
“I tried my best today, and if that is them playing as hard as they can for me, then maybe I am the problem.
“We will have a look at it, and this is going to be the worst journey I have ever had.”
Here’s how fans reacted while Ian Holloway fumes as a 4-0 loss to Grimsby sees Swindon drop out of top 7 for the first time since August…
@SteveDixey: You couldn’t give a fuck, u sat there and did nothing to help us. Get the fuck out of our club, shithouse. 🖕
@tommyb1508: Cheers Ian, you saved us from relegation, do the decent thing now and go. Go tonight.
@hussla4: Truth is we’ll never succeed under this regime Lies, incompetence & distrust combined with endlessly poor comms mean nothings ever stable. Luton screw ups grown to season defining & seeped into what was improved in ‘25. People won’t unite as they know they’ll be let down #STFC
@ChrisParkerNo6: In a one off game, Swindon have been probably the worst team to visit Blundell Park this season. Defensively terrible, weak in midfield and, considering you have the divisions leading scorer, toothless up top.
@CharlieStfcc: 252 days 17 hours 16 mins we spent in the top 7, and now we’re not even going to get into the top 7 come next week. Holloway needs to go. #STFC