PREVIEW: Swindon Town v Notts County

SWINDON TOWN host Notts County this afternoon in both sides final game of the season as the visitors attempt to avoid relegation on the last day of the season. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker previews the fixture.

A season of disappointment, managerial changes, and player exoduses has led to Swindon Town fall well short of their promotion aim with the Robins languishing in 14th position having acquired just 61 points.

However, whilst STFC have endured a league campaign of mid table mediocrity, today’s visitors to the County Ground,Notts County, have had a disastrous 18/19 season with the club teetering on the edge of relegation needing a win today to have any hope of staying up.

Winning the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Swindon Town will be hoping to do the double over Notts County for the first time since the League One 14/15 season.

But despite history being in Swindon’s favour, with the Robins having won 5 of the sides last 7 meetings, Neal Ardley’s Notts County will provide a significant test for Richie Wellens’ Town side as the World’s oldest League football club seek to avoid the relegation drop to non-league football.

A disastrous start to the season saw Notts County lose six of their opening seven games with the club firmly cemented to the bottom of the table at Christmas. 

However a resurgence of form that has seen the Nottingham based outfit acquire five wins and six draws since the turn of the year has given the club a lifeline with a win today and Macclesfield losing enough to keep them up.

In contrast, Swindon have nothing left to play for despite Richie Wellens’ claims that players are fighting for their future at the club, however despite the different realities facing either side, Swindon should be confident in their abilities of finishing the season with a win.

Swindon’s top scorer Michael Doughty looks set to start with it being revealed that the playmaker is close to signing a new deal with the club, whilst the likes of Kyle Bennett, James Dunne, and Danny Rose will be hoping to feature as they attempt to extend their stay at SN1.

Kane Hemmings and Jon Stead will provide County their best chance of taking three points away from Wiltshire, with the pair making likely to make themselves a handful for Swindon’s backline to deal with after having scored 23 goals between them so far this season.

However whilst strong in attacking areas, Notts County have the leagues worst defence having conceded 81 goals this season and they must stay strong to deal with the pace of Swindon’s Theo Robinson, Kaiyne Woolery and Keshi Anderson.

Swindon Town head into their final game of the season knowing that they have massively underachieved, and with nothing left to play for it would be no surprise should Notts County run riot at the County Ground in their hunt for survival.