Preview: Swindon Town v Macclesfield Town

SWINDON TOWN kick-off their season in tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated EFL League Two fixture against Macclesfield Town at the County Ground. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker previews the action ahead of STFC’s season opener.

Football is back and the season is finally ready to roar into action once again. The furore surrounding France’s World Cup victory is over, and finally footballing fans around the country can look forward to watching their favourite domestic football once again. 

Whilst the elite clubs of the Premier League don’t see their season begin for another week, English Football League teams finally get to pull on their clubs shirts for the beginning of the individual leagues this weekend. And for Swindon Town this means welcoming Macclesfield Town to the Country Ground tomorrow afternoon.

Last facing each other in an FA Cup match in 2013, Macclesfield winning 4-0, the sides haven’t faced each other in a league fixture since 2012 as Swindon managed a 1-0 home win when playing in League Two.  And Saturday will provide each team with the opportunity to get early points on the board.

Promoted from the National League after winning their division last season, Macclesfield Town will look to get off to a winning start against Swindon, as the Midlands club once again enter the realms of league football. But after being absent from English league football since 2012, Macclesfield are certainly one of the favourites to be relegated.

In contrast, Swindon Town players will be relishing the chance to put on a show in front of their home fans and as one of the favourites for promotion this season, it is important that Swindon assert their dominance with a big result on Saturday.

Both the Silkmen and the Robins go into Saturdays Sky Bet League Two curtain-raiser at nearly full-strength following similarly gruelling pre-seasons with just a single absentee through injury, winger Elliot Durrell is out through injury, whilst Town strike Marc Richards steps up his recovery from a shoulder injury picked up whilst playing against Melksham.

Phil Brown will be hopeful of earning victory over the leagues newcomers but he must remain cautious of letting his players becoming complacent against their opposition. 

Swindon have made some marquee signings this transfer window with both Michael Doughty and Toumani Diagouraga expected to start this weekends game, but now the players must put in motion their training as Brown seeks to justify his spending.