THE football cliché of taking it one game at a time may be as old and dull as a sexist Richard Keys gag but Swindon manager Mark Cooper insists it is neccessary for his side to succeed.

Despite the hugely encouraging results and performances put in by his side since the start of the season, Cooper has publicly refused to get ahead of himself.

When asked to provide some context to the success currently being enjoyed by his side, the County Ground chief shrugs it off and offers the same focused response of not allowing his mind to drift beyond the next game.

Cooper is completely aware that his outward conservatism does not make for the most interesting of insight into his management, but he has learned from experience that it can be no other way.

“Boring as it is, that’s the way it has to be,” said Cooper after again repeating his mantra.

“I’ve been in that situation before. You start looking ahead and thinking we might get a point there, we might get three there and it ends up nothing like that.

“So we concentrate on Saturday and trying to get a positive performance. If the performances are right, we’ve got a real good chance of winning the games.”

Though the accountants at the County Ground might not be encouraged by the prospect of just three more home fixtures before the New Year, it does allow Cooper and his side ample time to prepare for each game.

With Swindon’s tactically taxing style, preparation is key for the players. The manager knows having a week of training, rather than a couple of days, suits his side and offers an advantage over some of the teams around them in the table.

“(Having a week) gives us a chance to prepare properly when we’re in between games, which is when I feel we are at our best,” Cooper added.

“It gives the players the chance to recover mentally as well - the way we play takes a lot of work. I feel we’re better prepared when we have a break in between games.

“We have to make sure we get the right amount training, the right amount of rest. More importantly, we perform when it is our turn play on a Saturday or whatever day it is and make the most of the most of that advantage.”