Accringtonvs.Swindon

The 'Owd Reds managed a handsome victory on the road last time out, whilst the Robins were not as fortunate on their travels, losing to MK Dons.

Match preview

After suffering relegation from the third tier of English football during 2023, Accrington Stanley were unable to secure an immediate return to League One during the 2023-24 term as they placed 17th, and it appears that Saturday's hosts are set for another campaign of struggle.

That being said, the 'Owd Reds managed to stretch their winning run across the EFL Trophy, FA Cup and League Two to three matches last Saturday afternoon, when Chesterfield were defeated by three goals, with Josh Woods, Zach Awe and Jimmy Knowles finding the net in Derbyshire.

Collecting their fourth win of the league campaign at the 14th attempt last time out, Accrington are currently occupying 18th position in the League Two table, five points above Carlisle United in the highest of the relegation spots and eight points behind seventh-placed Grimsby Town.

The 'Owd Reds will be confident of picking up a positive result this weekend against the Robins considering that John Doolan's side have lost just one of their seven fourth-tier matches at Wham Stadium so far this season, with that sole defeat coming at the hands of Crewe Alexandra in September.

Finishing nine points ahead of the drop zone to the National League during 2023-24, Swindon Town are now on a mission to compete in the upper echelons of League Two, but Saturday's visitors to Wham Stadium are struggling massively with inconsistency as the winter months approach.

Back-to-back wins over Colchester United and Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy respectively were followed up by a poor showing on the road in the fourth tier last Saturday, when Harry Smith's goal could not prevent the Robins losing 3-1 at MK Dons.

Tasting success in their two of their opening 15 fourth-tier matches of the campaign, Swindon are languishing down in 22nd position in the League Two standings, one place and one point above Carlisle in the drop zone, and only two points better off compared to bottom side Morecambe.

Highlighting the Robins' struggles in front of net this season, four-goal striker Smith and centre-back Will Wright (3) are the only players in the Town squad who have found the goal on more than one occasion in League Two to date.

Accrington Stanley League Two form:

W

W

W

L

D

W

Accrington Stanley form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

W

W

Swindon Town League Two form:

D

W

L

L

D

L

Swindon Town form (all competitions):

L

L

D

W

W

L

Team News

After keeping a respectable clean sheet last time out, Accrington should stick with a centre-back trio of goalscorer Awe, Farrend Rawson and Sonny Aljofree.

Finding the net against Chesterfield, attack-minded midfielder Woods was forced off during the half-time interval, meaning that he is a doubt for this match.

Both providing assists against the Spireites, Tyler Walton and Dara Costelloe should continue as the menacing two-man forward line for the 'Owd Reds.

Following his second-half showing at MK Dons last time out, 18-year-old Joel McGregor is pushing for a sixth league start of the fourth-tier term.

As a result, there could be a midfield demotion to the bench, with Daniel Butterworth only lasting the opening 45 minutes of the defeat to the Dons.

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Crellin; Aljofree, Rawson, Awe; O'Brien, Coyle, Khumbeni, B Woods; Knowles; Walton, Costelloe

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Bycroft; Sobowale, Wright, Delaney, Longelo; Clarke, Kilkenny, McGregor; Drinan, Tshimanga, Smith

We say: Accrington Stanley 1-0 Swindon Town

Considering their solid record at Wham Stadium so far this season, we are expecting Accrington to pick up at least a point from this fixture.

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