MATCH PREVIEW: Stockport County vs Swindon

Swindon Town travel to Stockport this Saturday as they chase the chance of getting back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam previews the Robins’ trip to Edgeley Park.

Scott Lindsey’s side made a slow start to the season, failing to win any of their first five games in all competitions but ended that run with a convincing 3-0 home win against Rochdale last weekend.

Swindon will look to follow up that confidence boosting first win of the season as they make the 160-mile trip to Greater Manchester to face the pre-season bookies favourites for the title in newly promoted Stockport.

County have hardly had their dream return to the Football League after winning the National League last season, with only one win and four defeats from their first five league matches and they sit 21st in League Two.

They are not to be underestimated, however, having taken Leicester City to penalties in the League Cup in midweek.

The Hatters have an eye catching squad to fans of the level, featuring players like Paddy Madden, Fraser Horsfall and Antoni Sarcevic supported by a veritable set of National League all-stars, headlined by former Notts County marksman Kyle Wootton who hit double figures in each of his three seasons at Meadow Lane.

During Thursday’s press conference, Scott Lindsey said of his opposition: “They are quite expansive and are another team that likes to play with the ball, they like to play through the thirds and are quite aggressive in the way that they play.

“But they can also mix it up, they have good presence at the top of the pitch in Kyle Wootton and when it is time to play it forward, they will play it forward.”

Defender Tom Clayton also spoke about his excitement to take on the challenge of dealing with their seasoned forward players: “It is why I have come here, I am here to test myself against these types of players.

“I am sure it will be a good challenge, but it is one I am looking forward to and am excited for.”

For the Swindon squad it appears to be a case of one in one out as Harry McKirdy starts his three game suspension for throwing a drink at a referee’s suit, but on-loan defender Ciaran Brennan is in line for a return having spent time on the side-lines due to a concussion.

There is also the outside chance of a return for Reece Devine, who has returned to training, but is unlikely to feature as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.

For the head-to-head record between the two sides, you have to go all the way back to 2010, where a Swindon side headed for the play-offs dispatched with Stockport 4-1, with Billy Paynter bagging a brace as Danny Ward and Simon Ferry got the other goals for Swindon and Greg Tansey scored for the away side.

Town did the double over a County side which finished bottom of the table that season and would go on to have back-to-back relegations as they dropped out of the Football League the following season, in the reverse fixture yet another goal from Paynter was enough to see off Stockport at their own ground.

Overall against this weekend’s opposition, Swindon have the upper hand, winning 16 and losing 11 of their 34 meetings which date back to 1958.