Di Canio's Matchday

The Sun had exclusive access to Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio last Saturday when his team played Hereford United.

Here's part of their article published this morning.

8am: Alarm wakes me. I didn't get much sleep. I was up until 2.30am going through all the Hereford information.

8:30am: Time to have a shower. Although I'm confident — as we're in good home form — I hope all the Hereford information I have is correct. Their coach Jamie Pitman may set up his team differently. He has two players he may change — and that'll make the match different for us.

1.20pm: Hereford arrive. They've only 14 senior players to choose from with a goalkeeper coach between the sticks and a rookie on the bench to make up the numbers.

1:30pm: My players arrive. I made them have lunch at home otherwise they'd need to be here three hours before the match. That is too long and concentration levels can drop. I want them focused and ready once they're in the stadium.

1:40pm: Some players have massages for 15 minutes. I talk to individual players about aspects of the game.

We must be careful. On paper, Hereford looks easy but I noticed they've conceded 16 goals at home and just five away. That means they play defensively on their travels.

2pm: Hereford team-sheet is as I expected. I'm comfortable with the way we've lined up. Kenny Lunt is their orchestrator in central midfield but does not have pace. Tom Barkhuizen is a dangerous winger but is lazy tracking back.

2:15pm: Send my players out for warm-ups.

2.50pm: I've a way of speaking that is natural to me, which encourages the players. I'm like an actor in my actions and it sends a positive but strong message to the team. My body language has passion — it's emotional.

I tell them this is a massive game to win and that we have shown in home matches we can beat anyone.

I hear Nessun Dorma playing over the PA system — beautiful.

2.59pm: I walk out of the tunnel after the players. I call left-winger Raffaele De Vita quickly over to the touchline and remind him of the dangers and weaknesses he faces. It's a vital area.

3pm: Game kicks off. Hereford attack down the right with Michael Townsend before Barkhuizen shoots over. We also have a chance to score but Jake's shot is saved.

3.06pm: GOL! Eccellente! De Vita glances in a header from Mehdi Kerrouche's free-kick. I stay calm and don't celebrate. Their boss Jamie Pitman shouts something. I ignore and focus on the game.

3:10pm: I catch the ball as it flies my way. The Swindon fans sing "Paolo Di Canio...Paolo Di Canio..." Things are going well. But I throw my arms about in disgust as Steven Leslie fouls Kerrouche. Ref gives free-kick the other way.

3:22pm: Hereford win a free-kick. I go mad at Cibocchi. I tell him to be careful — any touching their players and they will win soft free-kicks.

3:30pm: I turn to my assistant Fabrizio Piccareta and do a ballerina impersonation. We are not being nasty enough.

Then I go very mad as Jervis misses a great chance. I want to hit something...oh, be careful not the steward sitting nearby...but the dugout window is fine.

3:35pm: Kick the nearby gravel in disgust as we lose possession. Then collapse into a crouched position, waving my arms furiously, as we hoof the ball out of defence. I want to see football like we played at West Ham!

3:39: GOL! Kerrouche — magnifico! Nice finish after getting the ball from Matt Ritchie and sidestepping Stefan Stam. We have not played that well but 2-0 up is good. It shows our quality.

3.48pm: Half time. I don't like the atmosphere in the changing room. It's quiet. I tell the players we had not played well but were thankfully 2-0 up and we must be capable of getting another goal to kill the game. Otherwise, if they score next, it'll be difficult.

I remind the team again: "Don't put your hands anywhere near their players." Their height advantage at free-kicks will trouble us.

4:03pm: Second half underway. Hereford bring on Harry Pell for Lunt and start well — Barkhuizen shoots just wide. This is not how I wanted us to begin the second half. The tempo is too slow. I tell Ahmed Abdulla to warm up and I send him on for Jon Smith seven minutes in.

4:12pm: Referee! That's a penalty! How is that not? Kerrouche was sent flying by their defender. Another decision that goes against us. I shout furiously at the referee and speak to the fourth official.

Simon Ferry shoots over an easy chance. I clap my hands, geeing the players up. "Well played — let's keep going."

4:17pm: Go mad — shout furiously at the ref — as Jervis is barged off the ball by Nicky Featherstone. No free-kick. Yet the officials seem to be giving them all the soft decisions.

4:24pm: Hereford make double substitution — Yoann Arquin and Sam Winnall replace Simon Clist and Nathan Elder. This is very attacking now. We must be careful.

4:25pm: Can you believe it? They are back in it. Barkhuizen — who I marked out as a danger — fires home a cross-shot. I immediately bring on Magera and Ridehalgh as planned.

4:33pm: Go absolutely mental. I kick the gravel, wave my arms around at 100mph, shout, turn around and punch the dugout again.

This ref is giving them everything. He awards a free-kick just outside our area. But I'm not just angry with the official — I told the players to not touch them and they continue to do it. Let them play...but if they get a free-kick, we suddenly have a big job on our hands to defend.

4:34pm: We defend the free-kick but cannot stop Arquin getting an easy header from Steven Leslie's cross and it's 2-2. The Hereford bench are celebrating and comments are coming across to me — I turn around and give them a sarcastic clap.

4:37pm: GOL! Ferry fires home a beautiful goal. I turn around to our fans and give them a big fist-punch into the air. Everyone in the ground is going crazy. The supporters chant my name.

4:44pm: Magera continues to give away fouls. I am angry. The message was so clear. I look at my assistant in disbelief, wave my arms around once again then shout out to remind my players the need of being careful. We must close the game out.

4:47pm: Harry Pell scores a goal that is carbon-copy of their first equaliser, heading home Winnall's cross. I am frustrated and sad — but this time I stay calm.

4:51pm: All over. I shake hands with the Hereford manager. We have lost a great chance to get three points. I have a discussion with my assistant. We have much to work on.

1am: Time for bed. I have to get up early tomorrow because I'm starting the Swindon Half Marathon.

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