Preview: Swindon Town vs. Tranmere Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side could move into the automatic promotion places with a victory, while the visitors will want to make a push towards the last playoff berth.

Match preview

Swindon have really started to put a run together in the league in recent times, losing just one of their last six outings, leaving them positioned sixth in the standings.

Not only that, but Scott Lindsey's side have picked up good results against fellow promotion contenders in their two most recent League Two matches, starting with a very respectable point on the road at fifth-placed Bradford City.

This was then followed up with a stellar performance on the road, beating Mansfield Town in style with a 5-2 victory at the One Call Stadium, with Jonathan Williams helping them on their way by scoring a first-half brace.

The Robins' matches are usually tight affairs, only winning one other game this season by more than a solitary goal, dating back to a 3-0 victory against Rochdale in August, and so Lindsey must have thought his team had finally clicked in front of goal.

However, Swindon could not muster up the same performance in a trip to Stockport County in the FA Cup last weekend, losing in dismal style, as they were thumped 4-0 at Edgeley Park, a performance that they will want to move on from quickly.

Tranmere were also knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend, losing 2-1 at Carlisle United, despite a late Neill Byrne goal offering them a potential route back into the game.

It was the second time that the Rovers had been defeated by the Cumbrians in the space of a week, also falling short in a home league fixture, having a seven-game League Two unbeaten run ended by a Krystian Dennis brace in a 2-0 loss.

Prior to that, Micky Mellon's men had really started to turn their season around, going on a run of five-straight wins in League Two, without conceding a single goal.

A point on the road at Harrogate Town brought this form to a halt, but it is not often that a draw away from home in League Two is cause for too much concern.

However, Tranmere have continued to struggle to pick up three points in recent matches, failing to beat Rochdale at home despite dominating the majority of the play, before not finding the back of the net in their last two league games.

As such, Mellon's side will want to put this right on Saturday to ensure that they stay within touching distance of the playoffs, although they face a tough test, as they have not won at the County Ground in their last eight attempts.

Swindon Town League Two form:

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Swindon Town form (all competitions):

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Tranmere Rovers League Two form:

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Tranmere Rovers form (all competitions):

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Team News

Swindon's Tom Clayton picked up a thigh issue in the victory at Mansfield, and had to be withdrawn after 17 minutes, so his replacement on the day, Mathieu Baudry, is likely to keep his place.

Conor Brann went down with a knee issue during the warm-down after the FA Cup defeat against Stockport, and so the back-up goalkeeper may not make the squad.

Williams and Luke Jephcott have been the main attacking threat for Lindsey's side so far this season, and they should both keep their places, racking up a combined six goals in their last four games.

As for Tranmere, Micky Mellon may choose to switch back to a 4-4-2 system, after his experiment with a 5-3-2 in recent weeks has not paid dividends.

Left-winger Josh Hawkes may come into the team, which would mean centre-back Kyle Jameson is sacrificed, with Kieron Morris starting on the opposite flank.

Dynel Simeu and Jordan Turnbull have developed a good partnership in the middle of defence, and should both keep their places.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Hutton, Brennan, Baudry, Iandolo; Gladwin, Khan, Darcy; Wakeling, Williams, Jephcott

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Dacres-Cogley, Turnbull, Simeu, Bristow; Morris, O'Connor, Merrie, Hawkes; Nevitt, Hemmings

We say: Swindon Town 1-0 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere do not travel well to the County Ground, with a poor recent record there in recent years. That, combined with the fact that Swindon are slightly above them in the table, means that they may well fall to a narrow defeat.

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