Come on, make our day!

From the archive, first published Saturday 7th Jan 2006.

IFFY Onuora has issued a rallying cry for five-figure assistance to help Town see off their `benchmark' visitors today.

With four points safely banked from two festive fixtures, Swansea City should prove the stiffest test yet in Town's evolution under Onuora.

Swansea will be roared on by 3,500 of their supporters inside the County Ground and the Town boss would love nothing more than that noise to be drowned out by the passionate roar of a healthy home following.

August's win over Nottingham Forest attracted more than 8,000 spectators but the magic 10,000 figure has yet to be breached.

Onuora said: "The travelling fans at Chesterfield really got behind the team and we were dead pleased about that. Psychologically to get anywhere close to or above 10,000 would be great."

Optimism is certainly flowing through the County Ground again but happy as the manager is, he certainly isn't getting over excited.

He only has to glance at the league table.

He said: "No-one is getting carried away. We're still bottom and we've jobs to do against Swansea and then Hartlepool before we can literally catch our breath for a few days.

"The return so far over Christmas has been good. We've nothing to fear against the top teams but we can't let our standards drop and we want to make sure the feel-good factor continues through the next couple of games."

As for that optimism, it is a question of small but steady steps being taken.

Onuora said: "It was always going to be slow because I always talked in terms of evolution rather than revolution - both on and off the pitch.

"We have a young squad but the longer the season has gone on the players are gaining in maturity and looking stronger with every game. We're getting the benefits of that."

With Swansea riding high in the division, Onuora accepts they are the side for the rest of the teams to follow.

He said: "Swansea have made great strides on and off the pitch as a club. They're now the benchmark really in this division.

"It should be a good occasion. Still, as I've said. We can go out there positive and we treat them with respect but nothing more."

On the selection front, Stefani Miglioranzi comes back into contention after missing the game for personal reasons while Charlie Comyn-Platt also comes back into contention.

However, Nicky Nicolau and Christian Roberts are both ill and will probably miss out.

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