Cup Preview: Swindon Town v Plymouth Argyle

SWINDON TOWN host Plymouth Argyle in the second game of their Leasing.com campaign as Richie Wellens' side look to return to winning ways following defeat at the weekend. Total Sport Swindon's Rajan Hothi previews the clash.

Defeat last time out to Bradford City condemned Swindon to back-to-back defeats in League Two for the first time this season, but Tuesday nights game offers a perfect opportunity to regain confidence as Town play Argyle twice in the same week starting with their Leasing.com Group N clash. 

Swindon's only other game in the group saw them narrowly lose 3-2 to Chelsea's Under-21's back in August while Plymouth drew with Bristol Rovers, but claimed an extra point as they beat the Gas 5-3 on penalties. 

These two sides met in this competition last season where Swindon ran out 3-0 victors at Home Park. Goals from Marc Richards, Keshi Anderson and Kaiyne Woolery saw Swindon blow their League One opponents away last season.

But the head-to-head record shows Plymouth to usually dominate this fixture - winning 36 of their games against Swindon. Town have won 25 and there have been 12 draws between the two sides.

Plymouth haven't enjoyed the return to League Two that they perhaps would've expected. Following relegation from League One last season, Argyle have struggled to find their feet in the Football League's basement division, sitting in 12th spot - with just one win in their last six league games. 

However, while results haven't been amazing, injuries have not helped Ryan Lowe with players such as Byron Moore and Dom Telford not being fully fit.

Ryan Lowe's biggest worry, however, will be his defence. Plymouth have conceded the second-most goals in the top half of the division, with only Port Vale's 18 topping Argyle's 15 goals conceded, and have only managed one clean sheet in their last seven league outings. 

Swindon, on the other hand, have been left short of defensive options, with the injuries to Dion Conroy and Mathieu Baudry leading to Wellens acquiring the services of Gabriel Zakuani prior to Saturday's defeat at Bradford. 

Both sides are expected to give fringe players a chance on Tuesday with the competition not a priority for either manager, but it does offer the chance for the two to gain a better idea of each other before their league clash on Saturday. 

Tom Broadbent may be given a chance to redeem himself to Wellens after poor performances against Chelsea U-21's and Colchester. While Adam May, Taylor Curran and Steven Benda will all be pushing for starts as well.

Goalkeeper Luke McCormick has come under fire from some Town fans in recent weeks, and there have been calls for the highly-rated on-loan Swansea City 'keeper Benda to be given a chance between the sticks. 

Both Ryan Lowe and Richie Wellens have spoken about the Leasing.com trophy not being a priority, and the game will have nowhere near the intensity that Saturday's game will have, but the game will give both gaffers a better idea of the other ahead of Saturday's big West Country clash.