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Preview: Swindon Town vs. Crewe Alexandra - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 November 2022, 18:33
Crewe Alexandra will be aiming to record a second successive victory when they visit Swindon Town in League Two on Saturday.

The hosts, meanwhile, have taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four league games at the County Ground.

Match preview

Having missed out on promotion back to League One after losing to eventual play-off winners Port Vale on penalties in the semi-finals last season, Swindon will be aiming to make their return to the third tier this time around.

The Robins head into Saturday's fixture in sixth position, which is exactly where they finished last campaign, with a four-point gap to Northampton Town in the third and final automatic promotion spot meaning they cannot catch the Cobblers this weekend.

However, after drawing at home against Tranmere Rovers last time out, head coach Scott Lindsey - who was appointed in August after his predecessor Ben Garner departed for Charlton Athletic during the summer - will be urging his side to return to winning ways.

With a strong home record in recent times to call upon, the former Gillingham midfielder will be confident of extending their unbeaten run in League One to six matches at the very least.

Crewe, meanwhile, returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory against Colchester Town last weekend, having failed to take all three points from any of their previous seven league matches.

As such, it was little surprise to see Crewe's board dispense of Alex Morris's services from the managerial dugout, with Lee Bell remaining in charge as caretaker boss for their trip to Wiltshire this weekend.

The Railwaymen left it late to beat Colchester, who have only collected one point on the road all season, with Dan Agyei's 80th-minute strike proving enough to bring his side's winless streak to an end.

Bell's side have a game in hand on the majority of the sides in the division, but even a surprise victory against Swindon on Saturday would almost certainly not be enough to move them into the top half of the table after a difficult start to the campaign following relegation last season.

Swindon Town League Two form:

L

W

W

D

W

D

Swindon Town form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

L

D

Crewe Alexandra League Two form:

D

L

D

D

L

W

Crewe Alexandra form (all competitions):

D

D

L

W

W

W

Team News

Swindon will be without their star midfielder Jonny Williams, who has been called up to Wales' squad for the World Cup in Qatar this month.

The 29-year-old was rested last time out in any case due to his expected international involvement, but Lindsey may look to reinstate Louis Reed to the starting XI after the former Peterborough United midfielder came off the bench against Tranmere.

Crewe, meanwhile, should travel with a full roster given that none of their players are making the trip to the Arabian Peninsula.

Bell may therefore name the same side which dispatched Colchester last weekend, with Agyei leading the line once again as the 25-year-old attempts to make it two goals in two appearances.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Harries, Brennan, Blake-Tracy; Hutton, Gladwin, Reed, Darcy, Iandolo; Wakeling, Jephcott

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Okonkwo; Mellor, Offord, Sass-Davies, Adebisi; Brook, Thomas, Ukakwe; Tabiner, Sambou; Agyei

We say: Swindon Town 2-1 Crewe Alexandra

We can envisage an entertaining affair in Wiltshire on Saturday, with the hosts likely to come out on top.

Swindon's home form has been impressive in recent weeks, with Crewe's tough slog against hapless Colchester last weekend hardly inspiring confidence that they can avoid defeat.

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