DAVID Flitcroft hopes a vocal home support can make a big difference for his Swindon Town side between now and the end of the season.

Flitcroft was impressed by the atmosphere when his side travelled to Lincoln City last weekend and commented post-match that he felt the Sincil Bank crowd almost drew the ball into the goal for the Imps’ late equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

After three away games in a row – with Town also travelling to Stevenage and Accrington Stanley over the past two Tuesday nights – Swindon are back on home turf on Saturday when they welcome Mansfield Town to the Energy Check County Ground.

Town are seeking a fourth straight home win against a Stags side who are also currently situated in the League Two play-off places and Flitcroft believes a vibrant environment at home could be a telling factor in their quest for promotion.

“When I look back at Lincoln, probably for the last 20 minutes of that game it is the best stadium I have been in League Two or League One and at times, the Championship,” said Flitcroft.

“The support, the noise, the togetherness, it is as good as I have heard.

“It is vibrant, the supporters want the team to do well and are fully behind it and there is a real charged atmosphere. At 2-1 down, they super-charged right to the end.

“It does make a difference so after three good results at home we are hoping that we can put a performance on that energises the supporters and gives us that lift that was really apparent at Lincoln.

“The connection between the away support and the players has been phenomenal. It is something that I have really enjoyed this season and I have tried to repay the faith as people spend a lot of money going up the motorway for matches on a Tuesday night.

“At home we have not been able to give the supporters, certainly last year, but with three wins on the bounce, hopefully the supporters might feel the tide has changed and we can really build some momentum at home.”

Forward Keshi Anderson is fit to return for Town on Saturday after missing the midweek trip to Accrington with fatigue, although he is the only player likely to return from the club’s current injury list as Amine Linganzi, Chris Hussey, Donal McDermott and Dion Conroy all remain out.

Central defender Matt Preston is free to play after serving a one-match ban for a red card against Lincoln last weekend, although the availability of on-loan winger Kellan Gordon is unknown as Town have appealed his own sending off against Accrington.

“Keshi will be back, he trained well today (Thursday). We will probably give him a bit more than the rest of the squad on Friday and that will bring Keshi back into the fold,” said Flitcroft.

“We thought Amine (Linganzi) might be touch-and-go but he probably won’t make it on Saturday. He is getting closer but you do get setbacks with injury.”