Preview: Stevenage vs. Swindon Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Swindon Town have the opportunity to go top of League Two with victory on Saturday, when they travel to the Lamex Stadium to face Stevenage, who are looking to get back to winning ways.

The home side currently sit ninth, while Swindon are three points better off than their opponents this weekend, occupying fourth spot after picking up 10 points from their first five games.

Match preview

Alex Revell's side are struggling on a five-game run without a win across all competitions, with their most recent defeat coming against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

That game was full of goals, eventually ending 4-3 to the away youngsters, and Stevenage never managed to take the lead in the tie after falling 2-0 behind inside the first 25 minutes.

Their last league outing came against Walsall, who had not won this season prior to the meeting on Saturday, but an early goal from Conor Wilkinson sank Stevenage to their second defeat in League Two.

Stevenage's performance demonstrated a team in a bad run of form, seeing most of their shots at the Banks' Stadium fly wide of the target.

After a positive start to the campaign with two wins from their opening fixtures, Revell's side have struggled and it is expected to be a difficult challenge to turn their fortunes around against a side which has started strongly following their relegation from League One.

Swindon head into this fixture with back-to-back wins under their belt, defeating Salford City and Mansfield Town by the scoreline of 1-0.

Tyreece Simpson was the goalscorer last time out at the County Ground, which was the striker's first goal for the club since arriving on loan from Ipswich Town this summer.

Swindon's defensive strength will please manager Ben Garner and Joe Wollacott's three clean sheets in their last three outings is a key factor towards their league position so far.

It has been a positive start for new manager Garner, who has worked on the team's defending after they conceded a massive 89 goals during their relegation campaign last year.

Swindon will want to take advantage of Stevenage's poor run of form, and carry on their 100% record away from home in the league so far this season.

Team News

Experienced centre-back Scott Cuthbert was forced off in their game against Bradford City on August 17 due to an injury, but the 34-year-old made his return during the side's 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Under-21s and is expected to start this weekend.

Certain starters for Stevenage are expected to be Jake Reeves and Jake Taylor in the centre of midfield, with the pair having started all five league games so far.

Luke Norris and Jamie Reid seem to be the preferred strike partnership for Revell's side, but Reid is yet to get off the mark in League Two for his new club.

Swindon will be without midfielder Jonny Williams as he is away representing Wales during the international break, but the three appearances he has made for Swindon so far have all come from off the bench.

Garner made just one change last time out from the side which beat Salford, as Rob Hunt came back into the side in place of Ellis Iandolo in the left wing-back position.

After two wins on the bounce, the Swindon team is likely to be very similar to the starting 11 which beat Mansfield, with Simpson and Ben Gladwin leading the line of a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Bastien; Coker, Cuthbert, Vancooten, Wildin; List, Reeves, Taylor, Osbourne; Reid, Norris

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Crichlow-Noble, Conroy, Odimayo; Hunt, Reed, Grant, Kesler; Payne; Simpson, Gladwin

We say: Stevenage 0-2 Swindon Town

Despite scoring three times in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, Stevenage have averaged one goal per game which suggests they are unlikely to have enough firepower in front of goal to penetrate a strong Swindon defence.

Swindon themselves have not been a side to score many goals this season, but they are expected to take advantage of Stevenage's poor form and collect three points on Saturday.

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