PREVIEW: Cambridge United v Swindon Town

SWINDON TOWN travel to Cambridge this afternoon seeking to get back to winning ways after three consecutive draws. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker previews the upcoming fixture.

Rewind to the start of April and Swindon Town’s playoff hopes remained intact and more-or-less in their own hands. However, a difficult period of form, in which the Robins have taken just three points since the start of the month, sees Swindon travel to Cambridge for the Good Friday fixture five points adrift of the playoffs. 

Recording a two-nil away win at the County Ground earlier in the season presents Cambridge with the opportunity of earning back-to-back league victories over Swindon for the first time since 1993. But losing in back-to-back matches against Mansfield and Newport County, the U’s have entered a similarly patchy period of form. 

Swindon, however, will be looking to make amends for defeat earlier in the season as manager Richie Wellens aims to recreate the attacking free-flowing football that was so effective on the road following his arrival at the club.

Eleven league positions and fifteen points separate Swindon, 10th – 60 points, and Cambridge, 21st – 45 points, but previous experiences against lower-placed opposition this season highlights the tough upcoming task awaiting Swindon.

Speaking ahead of tomorrows match, Wellens outlined how he wants his players to put on a show for the paying punters saying:

“The performances for the last few months have been outstanding – let’s finish the season off on a real high and give people, supporters especially, a real optimism going into the summer.

“The playoffs are highly unlikely but let’s give people a sense of our identity now and show that we are a good football team,” he said. 

With both teams having scored just three goals each over their previous three fixtures, a lack of goals is to be expected in today's clash at the Abbey Stadium, but the resurgence of Michael Doughty within the STFC squad provides a realistic midfield goal threat for Swindon. 

However, the absence of Theo Robinson from the matchday squad presents Richie Wellens with a new problem.

Swindon travel to Cambridge expressing that they won’t give up on the playoffs until it is mathematically impossible and a trip to Cambridge may be the welcome boost needed if Town are to get anything from the remainder of the season.

Prediction: 1-2