PREVIEW: Swindon Town v Colchester United

SWINDON TOWN host Colchester United as Richie Wellens' side look to register four wins in a row for the first time since the manager's arrival last November. Total Sport Swindon's Rajan Hothi previews the clash at SN1.

The visit of Colchester presents Swindon with a good chance to build some real momentum - something that has held the club back in previous years - and with fans flocking back to see this exciting brand of football on show, Wellens will be eager that his side does not disappoint. 

A comfortable afternoon against Macclesfield last time out saw Swindon register a 3-0 win against the Silkmen, courtesy of an Eoin Doyle brace and a Keshi Anderson goal, but Swindon will likely have their biggest test at home so far on Tuesday night. 

Colchester United missed out on a play-off spot on the final day of last season, and John McGreal will be desperate to get the U's a top-seven finish this time around. An indifferent start to the season sees Colchester sit in 17th spot, winning two, drawing two and losing three of their opening eight games in League Two. 

However, while their league form may be uninspiring, as Swindon fans will be aware of, they have endured success in the Carabao Cup this season - dispatching of Town in the first round, 3-0, before going on to beat Premier League Crystal Palace on penalties, setting up a third-round clash with Spurs. 

A much rotated Swindon side were picked off by a strong Colchester side in early August, as both teams went down to ten men, and goals from Tom Eastman, Courtney Senior and Brandon Comley secured Colchester's passage through to the next round. 

Despite the contrast in league positions, albeit only eight games into the season, Colchester will be no pushovers, and as Wellens spoke about following Town's victory over Macclesfield, he is eager to make sure no complacency kicks in. 

If the recent head-to-head standings are anything to go by, Swindon will be in for a tough evening with the Robins winning just two of their last ten meetings with Col U. The U's have won four of the last ten, with there also being four draws. 

In Swindon's last two home games, the Reds have done well to break down Morecambe and Macclesfield who have both looked to sit back and be hard to break down - the exact sort of teams Swindon have struggled against in recent years - but this Colchester side aren't one to adapt this style. 

They do look to get the ball down and attack teams with players such as Courtney Senior being recognised as one of the best-attacking players in the division, however, they are one of the lowest scorers in the division - managing just six goals compared to Swindon's 17. 

Changes may be enforced for Town due to the quick succession of games. Dion Conroy was substituted late in the win against Macclesfield with a dead leg but should be available while Jordan Lyden is out for 2-3 weeks after sustaining an injury in the 3-1 win over Leyton Orient. 

Richie Wellens may choose to rest one of Anthony Grant, who has had no pre-season, and Danny Rose - who has not long come back from a lengthy injury layoff - to facilitate Doughty into the starting eleven after he served his three-game suspension following his dismissal at Cheltenham. 

Optimism is high in the STFC camp at the moment. They're the second top goalscorers in the EFL as well as having the joint top goalscorer in the EFL in Eoin Doyle. Lloyd Isgrove also tops the assist charts in League Two with five, and they currently occupy second spot in the division. 

This Swindon side are starting to make themselves credible challengers, and a win against a Colchester side aiming for a top-seven finish would not only further the momentum but show that the home form is changing and that the County Ground is starting to become a fortress again.