Swindon T 2 Wigan Athletic 1:"YOU CANNOT keep a lion in a cage," said Paolo Di Canio last May when, to widespread surprise, he returned to football three years after hanging up his boots. It was not so much his return that was surprising – he had, after all, not truly been away, since he had spent much of his period out of the limelight working to gain his Uefa Pro Licence – rather it was the arena that he chose.

How could a maverick talent who clearly thrived on being centre stage find satisfaction in the gaunt depths of League Two, to which Swindon Town had just been relegated after finishing bottom of the third tier? It will end in tears, prophesied the naysayers, or a spectacular strop.

There was a hint of tears on Saturday all right, in the corner of the 43-year-old’s eyes as he spoke of his sadness that his father Ignazio, who died recently, was not able to watch “the best day of my career” with the rest of his family, who had gathered in front of a television in Rome, where Swindon’s improbable victory over Premier League opposition was broadcast live – a sign of the appeal and fascination that Di Canio holds for football followers in at least two countries.

But mostly, of course, there was joy.

Joy at being the master of ceremonies of a sensational result; joy at the love for him that was expressed melodiously from the stands of the County Ground, which were full for the first time in two years; joy at FA Cup progress; and joy, perhaps, at this further indication that this is a job that he could do at a higher level.

“Of course I have ambitions to manage in the Premier League . . . but why can’t I do that at my club, with the plan we have here?” he asked after the win over Wigan Athletic. Why indeed? After all Swindon are looking good for promotion this season, as they sit fourth in the league and are playing with a swagger that augurs well. But if impressive performances accumulate, other clubs may consider offering the Italian a quicker route to the top flight.

“Players are, of course, the first protagonists but the manager takes the decisions, makes the strategy,” says Di Canio, explaining what drives him in his new guise. “You can influence your players in the wrong way or the right way. Your decisions can upset a lot of people . . . so you have to get them right. That’s a big challenge.”

It is a challenge that this competitor cherishes and to which he is rising so well. Certainly, his plan to beat Wigan worked perfectly.

Roberto Martinez made nine changes to the side that had contested Wigan’s last Premier League match, but he still fielded a team with abundant top-flight experience against a Swindon side that had none. Yet Di Canio’s men always looked the likely winners.

Even after the visitors took the lead, Callum McManaman converting the rebound after Ben Watson’s penalty struck the post in the 34th minute, Swindon showed themselves to be more incisive, showcasing the slick interplay that Di Canio encourages. They caused panic in the Wigan defence several times even before they equalised in the 40th minute, Alan Connell heading in Matt Ritchie’s sumptuous cross.

Connell’s performance bore testament to the success of Di Canio’s methods. The striker started instead of Mehdi Kerrouche, who was not even in the squad despite being the club’s top scorer this season. Di Canio questions Kerrouche’s work ethic and has told him he can leave. Connell has also been omitted on occasion but has responded in the way the manager wanted, his goal against Wigan being his third in three games.

“He is a completely different player now,” says Di Canio. “A few games ago he used to lose every challenge . . . but really all the credit goes to him because he was intelligent and angry enough to want to get his place back.”

Di Canio’s transfer market policy also seems to be working. Goalkeeper Wes Foderingham has excelled since joining Swindon on loan from Crystal Palace in October and completed his permanent switch the day before saving Watson’s penalty. The winning goal was scored in the 70th minute by Paul Benson, Di Canio’s first signing in the January transfer window.

“The manager and the backroom staff deserve all the credit for this win,” said Benson. “Maybe a lot of people think ‘what would Paolo Di Canio know about players at this level’, but you talk to him and you see that he really knows the players and what it takes to perform at this level . . . The players are all behind him, he’s managed to put together a great squad who are prepared to battle together.”

The lion is on the prowl.