PREVIEW: SWINDON TOWN V NORTHAMPTON TOWN

SWINDON TOWN will be hoping to endure a winning return to The County Ground today as they take on the Northampton Town in today’s League Two fixture. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker previews the match ahead of kick-off.

Having picked up just one point from their last two games, today's home match against the struggling bottom of the table dwellers Northampton provides Phil Brown and his squad the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.

A surprise 1-0 midweek defeat away to Crewe Alexandra came as a shock to the system for the Wiltshire club as Swindon Town fail to find the consistency needed to chase promotion. But what can we expect from today’s game?

Common enemies have seen the two sides play each other on multiple occasions since as far back as pre World War One, but with Swindon suffering two back-to-back defeats against Northampton in Town’s latest League One relegation season, today’s game looks set to be a feisty affair.

Relegated from League One last season, Keith Curle’s Northampton has failed to live up to expectations as the club seek to avoid the drop into non-league football. Just one win all season, an away victory over Colchester, makes for glum reading for the clubs travelling fans. Whilst, in contrast, victory today would see Swindon gain their fifth win of the season so far.

Having failed to score in their last two matches, Phil Brown will be hoping his side can replicate the same high-scoring form that they started the season with, and against a poor Northampton team that has conceded seventeen goals already this season, a flurry of goals is to be expected at SN1 today.

Town striker Elijah Adebayo will be hoping to get back on the score sheet after failing to score since Swindon’s away victory over Yeovil, but his goalscoring form is expected to depend on whether the loanee attacker is played through the middle or out on the wing. 

Michael Doughty remains a doubt for Swindon with the playmaker still struggling with a hip injury, but fans will be eager to see their star player back in action with Swindon lacking quality in the final third without him.

Nine points separate Swindon from the high-flying top of the table Lincoln, but today’s match gives Town their best opportunity yet to close the gap and start their playoff charge.

Match prediction: 2-0