County will be aiming to make it lucky number 13 this weekend, as the league leaders travel to out-of-form Swindon Town in League Two.
Our last league fixture saw us stretch our lead at the top of the table to five points after beating Tranmere Rovers at Edgeley Park, before following that up with another win in the FA Cup last weekend against Worksop – a 12th straight victory in all competitions.
The all-time League Two record for consecutive victories stands at 12, most recently set by Luton Town back in 2002. That win over Tranmere was a tenth league win on the bounce for Dave Challinor’s side, who could close in on a place in history with another three points on Saturday.
Elsewhere in League Two this weekend, 2nd place Notts County travel to 5th place Crewe Alexandra, 3rd place Wrexham host Gillingham, whilst Mansfield, who sit just outside the top three with a game in hand, travel to Salford City.
Swindon, meanwhile, were in action on Tuesday night as they travelled to Colchester United. Despite leading at half-time through Jake Young’s 11th league goal of the season, The Robins fell to a 3-1 defeat in Essex as they failed to bounce back from a heavy 7-4 FA Cup defeat at home to Aldershot Town last weekend.
It was a seventh defeat in nine games for Michael Flynn’s side as they missed out on the chance to climb back into the play-off places. They currently sit in 10th after that result, three points off the top seven and 12 behind County.
Our Opponents:
Having lost out in the League Two Play-Offs in 2021/22, Swindon will have been hoping for another promotion push last year despite the loss of manager Ben Garner to Charlton Athletic.
Assistant manager Scott Lindsey was appointed in his place and had the Robins on track at the half-way stage, with only goal difference keeping them out of the top seven in mid-January.
Their season was disrupted however, with the news that Lindsey had left the club to take up the job at struggling side Crawley Town, who were 21st in League Two at the time.
Former Chelsea academy coach and assistant-manager Jody Morris was brought in as a replacement for his first managerial role, but his spell in charge would last for only 18 games. Swindon won just four games under the 44-year-old, dropping from 6th in the table at the time of his appointment down to tenth, with one game left in the season. They finished the campaign 14 points behind 7th place Salford City.
There’s been plenty of change over the summer, with former Walsall and Newport County boss Michael Flynn installed as the club’s new manager and nine new signings coming through the door.
The loan additions of Jake Young from Bradford City and Dan Kemp from MK Dons have proven to be inspired – Young has 11 goals in the league already, whilst midfielder Kemp, so impressive at Hartlepool United last season, has scored ten and assisted five in all competitions already.
The in-form duo were key to what was an impressive start to the season for Flynn’s side, who were unbeaten in their first nine league games of the season – sitting in third place, one point off top spot with a game in hand at the end of September.
Back-to-back defeats away at Notts County and Bradford City began an alarming dip in form for the Robins, however, who have now won only one of their last nine in all competitions.
Having retained a strong home record in the league so far, losing just once to Gillingham, the side were stunned in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend against National League side Aldershot Town. The Robins trailed 4-0 to the Shots at half-time and 7-0 before the hour-mark. Four consolation goals late in the game did little to spare the home side’s blushes, and that misery was compounded on Tuesday night with that second-half collapse at Colchester.
Despite their recent struggles, however, they remain within touching distance of the play-off places, and have actually scored more league goals than County this season with 34. Flynn will know that a win against the league leaders at the weekend could well prove a catalyst for a quick turnaround.
Match Stats:
- Saturday will be the 38th meeting between County and Swindon Town – we have won 13 of the previous encounters, compared to Swindon’s 16. We met three times last season in league and cup, winning two and drawing the other.
- After returning from injury, Kyle Wootton has now scored five goals and registered three assists in his last three appearances. Strike partner Tanto Olaofe, meanwhile, has scored nine in his last eight.
- Dave Challinor has now picked up the League Two Manager of the Month award four times since the start of last season – more than any other manager in that time.
