FA CUP PREVIEW: Swindon Town v York City

SWINDON TOWN will look to kick-start their FA Cup run with a victory this afternoon as they host York City in the competitions first round. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his preview ahead of the big game.

The oldest cup competition in English football returns to Swindon this weekend as Vanarama National League North side York City travel to Wiltshire looking to cause an upset against Phil Brown’s STFC.

Having last played each other in 1996, today’s match renews old rivalries with familiar faces as Town look to start a cup run in what has been a difficult season for the club. 

Similar league form sees both sides come into today's fixtures on the back of defeats as York lost by over three goals at home to Bradford, whilst Swindon suffered a one-nil away loss to Colchester United, leaving both teams languishing in lower mid-table spots of their respective leagues.

Being an English Football League team, today’s first-round game will be Town’s first taste of FA Cup action this season. However, for the visitors, it is has been a long and arduous journey to this stage already. 

After being made York’s permanent manager earlier this month following the departure of Martin Gray, Sam Collins will return to The County Ground with fond but short-lived memories of the club.

A successful career as a centre-back saw Collins represent a host of different teams, but a one-month loan spell at Swindon in 2007 makes the tie even more interesting with an ex-Robin returning to Wiltshire.

Entertaining the pre-competition qualifiers is never an easy task for any team, but York City have excelled on their cup journey so far. Beating Ashton Athletic, St Ives Town, and Blythe Spartans, the team have scored nine goals and not conceded in the process. 

For Swindon, the FA Cup has been a competition associated with misery and shock defeats in recent years with the Robins having departed at the first round stage in four of the last five seasons. 
A statistic that Phil Brown will be hoping to change for the better.

Injury concerns for Swindon see forced changes take effect following their latest outing as Brown revealed both Toumani Diagouraga and Michael Doughty would be unavailable for selection. 

Whilst for the visitors, new recruits Joe Davis and Michael Bray will look to make an immediate impact at their new club.

A prize pot of £36,000 awaits the winners of today’s tie and with money short within the lower footballing leagues, the FA Cup represents a real opportunity for teams to increase their financial wellbeing. 

Neutral fans will be hoping that the underdogs can cause an upset in today’s game, but Swindon Town supporters will be hoping for plain sailing into the next round.