Preview | Swindon Town v Colchester United

Swindon Town will look to extend their unbeaten run this weekend as they welcome Colchester United to the County Ground in Saturday’s League Two fixture. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his pre-match analysis below.

A 2-2 draw against playoff chasing counterparts Grimsby Town last time out saw Swindon continue their positive run of form as the Robins remained unbeaten at the County Ground in back-to-back league games for the first time since October. 

But with the visit of John McGreal’s high-flying Colchester on the horizon, could this weekend be the make or break point in Swindon’s season? 

Seven points and six league positions currently separate 6th placed Colchester, 54 points, and 12th placed Swindon Town, 47 points, as the two sides meet at the County Ground on Saturday afternoon. 

However, having both endured a positive run of form since the turn of the year, table positions don’t provide the full story ahead of what fans hope will be action-packed goals galore 90 minutes of football.

A 1-0 victory in the reserve fixture earlier in the season sees The U’s travel to SN1 aiming to complete the league double over Swindon for the first time since the League One season of 08/09. But an upturn in fortunes for Town means the Wiltshire side head into the weekend brimming with confidence.

Picking up seven from a possible nine points in their last three matches have seen Swindon narrow the gap to the playoffs to just seven points as Richie Wellens has effectively implemented his game-winning tactics of quick free-flowing attacking football on Town’s current crop of players.

And with a game in hand on the eleven teams above them, a victory over their Essex-based opponents this weekend would provide a much-needed boost to Swindon’s promotion chances. 

Although having scored just three home goals in their last three games highlights the patchy form of Town’s attackers. The arrival of experienced striker Theo Robinson has boosted Richie Wellens with the goal threat required having scored back-to-back goals against Forest Green and Grimsby. 

But against a well-drilled Colchester defence that has conceded only 37 goals this season, the likes of Kaiyne Woolery and Keshi Anderson must contribute more to the Robins attack. 

In contrast, a flurry of goals on the road has seen Colchester score nine away goals since the turn of the year as manager John McGreal has guided his side to the playoff places. 

Goal threats for the visitors see former Swindon striker Luke Norris make his return to the County Ground for the first time since leaving the Robins in the previous summer having scored 8 goals this season whilst top scorer Sammie Szmodics, 11 goals, means Swindon’s expected backline of Tom Broadbent and Dion Conroy will need to be at their best to deny Colchester a victory that would further cement their place in the playoffs. 

Injury concerns for the two sides see Swindon remain without Michael Doughty, Matty Taylor, Lawrence Vigouroux, and long-term absentee Olly Lancashire. Whilst Colchester’s physio room remains an ever-growing camp as Harry Pell, Tom Lapslie, and Brandon Comley are all sidelined with injury. 

Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens remains adamant that the playoffs are a realistic target for his side this season, now his players must back up promotion claims with a winning performance against formidable opposition.