What Lies in Store for Swindon Town in January?

2023 didn't quite go as planned for Swindon Town, but there's every reason for optimism as the club moves into January. Make no mistake, the departing year wasn't all bad, but 2023 likely didn't reach the expectation levels many Robins fans may have set last January.

Before we delve into how January may affect the Men's team, let's look at the Swindon Town Women's Team, where 2023 performances have been fundamental in setting up a potential run at the South-West Division title of the FA Women's National League. 

Lying in third spot at present, seven points adrift of Bournemouth and Exeter City, the January fixture list will be crucial to the team challenging for division honours. On 7 January, Swindon hosts Exeter before a trip to Bournemouth a week later. These two games against the unbeaten duo could potentially define the success of the Swindon Women's season.

Wins against both leading teams could narrow the gap between the teams and provide an added incentive for a sustained attack on the league's top position.

Moving on to the Men's side in EFL League Two, 2023 wasn't quite as kind. After finishing the 2023/23 season in 10th position, the first half of 2023/24 has been slightly more difficult. There are reasons to be cheerful for supporters, though, as January means the transfer window swings open, allowing Swindon manager Michael Flynn a chance to shore up his defence. 

The Robins have been scoring goals for free in Division Two in 2023/24, with their total of 44 ranking fifth-highest in the league. Now, with an upcoming opportunity to improve the club's current Achilles heel, its rather leaky defence, the odds on Swindon mounting an assault on the playoff positions remains a distinct possibility. 

The betting odds on offer for Swindon Town to make the playoffs are 8/1, meaning online sportsbooks believe the club has a fair to good chance of doing so. Betting odds are the prices bookmakers offer to you for a bet, such as 1/2 for England to beat Italy. The better the price offered by the bookmakers, the greater your potential payout will be. Prices can vary from site to site, with some online bookies more generous than others. (Source: https://bettingsites.co.uk/)

Any Swindon victories against those teams alongside or above them in the betting, like Bradford (7/4), Crewe (2/1), Wrexham (2/1), and Stockport (8/1), will result in improved odds of reaching the coveted playoffs by moving up the League Two table. Of course, predicting such victories can result in better returns for bettors before the odds shorten.

As it happens, Swindon will have already entertained Wrexham by the time this article reaches you, with important matches against Crewe and Bradford coming up on 13 and 27 January respectively. Of course, every league match is vital but those against Swindon's closest opposition will have more bearing on the club's league position and playoff qualification hopes. 

With another four months of the season to come after January, good performances and results then are not critical to the success of The Robins' season. A positive start to 2024 would, however, provide momentum for what's still to come thereafter. With some good defensive business done during the January transfer window, Swindon Town has the makings of noticeable improvement before the end of the league campaign.