Since arriving on transfer deadline day, Hackford has struggled to bed in at Swindon. With Aaron Drinan having locked up the central striker role, he has been accommodated on the wing, but rarely has he demonstrated the sort of searing pace and finishing ability that he has shown elsewhere.

The one fleeting showcase of that was when he capitalised on a mistake from Crystal Palace under-21s, and he ran clear to score in the opening Jersey Mike’s Trophy group game. That has yet to come through in League Two, with him not looking confident even when opportunities have come his way, such as when he headed wide against Rochdale and snatched at a chance against Walsall.

Playing back down the middle against Plymouth, things were different. After half an hour, he won the race to a loose ball on the halfway line, surged down the left wing and had a shot saved. Then, five minutes after that, Tom Nichols played him through down the right; he turned on the jets to get away from his marker, and his shot went off the goalkeeper and in.

Antwoine Hackford of Swindon Town scores against Plymouth Argyle (Image: Focus Images)

The way the ball ended up in the goal may have had some fortune, but they were two moments of real quality from Hackford that have been few and far between for him during his time after the game.

After the match, Ian Holloway spoke about how pleased he was to see his striker take on the mantle of a senior player and look like “the main man” in this setting. He also said that he was “still better than that.”

The fact that the 22-year-old has not flourished at Swindon so far is partially his own doing, as he has rarely looked like someone battering down the door to start, but he has also needed the team to be playing to his strengths. That finally happened against Plymouth, and he looked like the player he was advertised as.

The important part now is for him to use what he showed here in League Two when it really matters. It is one thing to look like Gareth Bale against some Plymouth youngsters and a few senior players, and quite another to do it on a Saturday.

Holloway also underlined how important it would be for him to form a partnership with Drinan. He mentioned having a duo like “[Kevin] Keegan and [John] Toshack.” That will take more than just running in behind, as great front twos are all about balance. Little and large. Coming short and going long.

That is what needs to come next, but the important first step was proving that there was something to build on. As Holloway said, “So far, I haven't seen him really look like he's enjoying himself. But there's a smile from ear to ear on his face now.”