PREVIEW: Swindon Town v Morecambe

SWINDON TOWN host Morecambe at the County Ground today in this weekends round of League Two features as the Robins look to return to winning ways following three winless games. Total Sport Swindon's Rajan Hothi previews the clash at SN1.

Swindon were unable to claim their first-ever win at Whaddon Road last Saturday, but an Eoin Doyle brace was enough to see a ten-man Town come away with a point from Cheltenham following a 2-2 draw.

Without a win in their last three matches, two draws and a solitary loss at home to Northampton, Richie Wellens will be eager for his side to end August with a win against a Morecambe team who Town completed the double against last season. A 1-0 win at the Globe Arena was followed up with a 4-0 thrashing at the County Ground.

Morecambe have begun to start to dread this fixture with the Shrimps not once tasting victory against Swindon. Six wins and one draw has seen Town dominate this fixture since the first meeting in 2006.

Jim Bentley's side will likely sit back and prove to be difficult to break down. Swindon have struggled against these exact sort of sides in recent seasons and the defeat to Northampton earlier in the month perhaps showed that this could be the Robins' downfall again this season.

A win against Morecambe could put some of those doubts to bed and highlight that this current Swindon team is different from the one that struggled in what looked to be home bankers last season. 

Currently occupying 18th spot, Morecambe have endured a poor start to the season winning just one of their opening five league games. Bentley's side have managed five goals so far and three of these have been scored by Lewis Alessandra. The 30-year-old bagged a brace in Morecambe's 3-2 loss to Exeter City last Saturday. 

While manager Richie Wellens will be forced to watch from the stands on Saturday, as the 39-year-old serves the last game of his two-match suspension, Jerry Yates will be back in contention after serving his three-match ban after his sending off against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup.

However, Wellens now finds himself with a selection headache and the Rotherham United loanee may find himself having to settle for a place on the bench due to the form of Eoin Doyle who has hit the ground running, netting three goals in as many games, since his loan move from League Two rivals Bradford City.

Doyle has seemingly formed a decent partnership with winger Lloyd Isgrove, with the former Barnsley wide-man assisting both of Doyle's goals against Cheltenham in a similar tricky fashion. 

One man Swindon will be without is instrumental midfielder, Michael Doughty. The 26-year-old was given his marching orders against Cheltenham following a reckless challenge which left Town a man down for the closing 20 minutes of the West Country derby. 

In both of Swindon's home games in the league so far this season, Town have managed to attract crowds of over 7,000 and now they'll be looking to maintain this support and send away the home fans happy while entertaining them with a win against Morecambe.

Following abject performances under David Flitcroft and Phil Brown, Wellens stated how Swindon fans are grateful to now have a team that wants to play positive, entertaining football and it's fair to say if consistency can be found, it will make Town a sight to behold in League Two. 

With the County Ground not being a happy hunting ground for Morecambe and Swindon's promising start to the season against the Shrimps poor start, it all points towards a comfortable afternoon for Wellens' side who will be looking to blow their opponents away with their quick, attacking play. However, this is Swindon Town and if there's one thing Town fans know, Swindon never do it easy. 

Prediction: 2-0