How will Swindon Town cope over the festive period?

SWINDON TOWN have registered seven league wins in a row in League Two and sit top of the table, but Richie Wellens' outfit face a busy festive schedule heading into the New Year which will see Town face four promotion rivals over the next month. Total Sport Swindon's Rajan Hothi evaluates what Swindon need to do to cope with this crucial run of fixtures.

However, when speaking post-match following his side's victory at Grimsby a couple of weeks ago, Swindon manager Richie Wellens insisted that he will be forced to make changes to the starting eleven over the next month to keep his side ticking. 

Thankfully, smart recruitment in the summer allows for changes to be made which will be pivotal for Swindon as they play six games in under a month - starting with a trip to Forest Green Rovers this Saturday. 

Players such as Diallang Jaiyesimi, Danny Rose, Keshi Anderson and Lloyd Isgrove are likely to feature over the next month with players returning from injury allowing those who have been a constant feature in the side this season some much-needed rest. 

Whilst it is a difficult decision to make changes to a winning side, the players returning from injury are more than able to do a solid job, thus highlighting the depth Town have this season. 

Though if Town are to maintain their stay at the summit of League Two, they will have to do something they haven't managed thus far, which is beat a side in the top ten.

Swindon have been ruthless against teams in the bottom half of the division, but have struggled against promotion rivals, and while this clearly hasn't impacted them too much, it would help Wellens' side bridge a gap between themselves and the chasing pack. 

Trips to Forest Green Rovers and Plymouth, as well as crucial home games to Bradford, Crewe and Newport, await Swindon in the next month and they will have to put in improved showings against these teams to stay top.

Swindon are also facing factors that are out of their hands that could affect them over this period. One of these factors is the future of Town's strike force Jerry Yates and Eoin Doyle.

The pair have managed to notch 30 goals between them so far this season, but Doyle's form, in particular, has attracted a lot of media attention with the 31-year-old rising to the top of the League Two scoring charts with 19 goals this season. 

Bradford City manager Gary Bowyer was reportedly reluctant to let Doyle leave on loan in the summer, and the Bantams may look to recall the Irishman to bolster their promotion hopes whilst dampening Swindon’s at the same time. 

The argument against the move is that it will be hard for Bradford to get Doyle to replicate his form at Valley Parade, especially due to his close relationship with Town boss Richie Wellens proving to be instrumental to his goalscoring this season. 

His strike partner Jerry Yates has perhaps gone under the radar, but a brace at Grimsby showcased that Swindon have two fantastic strikers at their disposal, but Rotherham United could end up recalling the 23-year-old. 

After impressing on loan at Carlisle United last season, Rotherham chose to recall him, and following impressive performances at SN1, the Millers may feel the need to recall Yates yet again. 

The festive period could prove to be crucial for Swindon as they lock horns with promotion rivals as well as facing a busy schedule. 

Last seasons runaway leaders Lincoln City only lost one game from December 15th to the end of the following month which saw them finish January five points clear of second-placed Mansfield with a game in hand on a lot of the chasing pack, highlighting how a good run of results over this period could prove vital to success. 

In their current run of form, you would back Swindon to beat any team in the division, and Wellens will be aware that he has to make sure that he uses the majority of his squad over this period to avoid this talented side burning out.