CARABAO CUP PREVIEW: SWINDON TOWN V FOREST GREEN ROVERS

SWINDON TOWN will encounter their first derby fixture of the new season as the Robins play host to Forest Green Rovers in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup first round fixture. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker previews the match-up.

Just twenty-nine miles separate the two grounds, however, tomorrow’s cup clash resonates a bit closer to home as fans of the two clubs will flock to the County Ground hoping to see their side progress to the next round of the national tournament.

League Two counterparts since last season, it’s Town who has endured the better run of results between the two clubs, winning three of their last four clashes, the latest a 1-0 home victory in January. But with league records counting for very little in a cup clash, Tuesday’s match presents an opportunity for both teams to go further than they managed in last year’s League Cup. 

Bowing out at the first round last year, losing 3-2 away to Championship side Norwich City, Phil Brown will be aiming to progress further in the competition as his team look to turn around a mixed start to their league campaign. In comparison, Forest Green will also be looking to progress further than the cup’s first round after the visitors were eliminated at the first hurdle last year, suffering a one-nil home defeat to MK Dons.

Unbeaten in both of their opening two league matches this season and currently sitting ten places above Swindon in the 4th spot of the League Two table, Forest Green will be coming into the match full of confidence in search of victory.

Former Town manager Mark Cooper will know what to expect from a re-tuned Swindon side as he attempts to inflict his first defeat on Swindon since leaving the County Ground. And with Phil Brown having described the cross-county rivals as a “surprise package” this season, it’s evident his Swindon squad will be aware of the threat that their opponents pose.

Looking to respond from their 4-1 league defeat away to Lincoln City at the weekend, Swindon will be hoping that a big turnout of fans at the County Ground will help spur to them victory as they attempt to avoid a third straight defeat. Town can play quick intricate passing football that causes problems for an opposing defence, and their ability to score goals is the team’s biggest threat.

However, a leaky defence that has conceded six goals so far this season will be Brown’s biggest concern. The manager has admitted he is aiming for clean sheets and an expected centre-back partnership of Conroy and Lancashire must ensure they are both at their best against Tuesday night’s visitors.

A difficult fixture for both teams presents each side with the realistic chance of progressing to the second round of the Carabao Cup and with bragging rights on the line,  it will be a match both sets of fans are hungry to win.