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

Swindon Town will be aiming to make it four games unbeaten in all competitions when they continue their 2024-25 League Two campaign with a clash against Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors are currently 21st in the League Two table, picking up eight points from their opening 10 matches of the season, while Cheltenham sit 20th, collecting 10 points from their first 10 games of 2024-25.

Match preview

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Cheltenham have a record of three wins, one draw and six defeats from their 10 League Two matches this season, which has left them in 20th spot in the table on 10 points, four points ahead of the bottom two.

The Robins were relegated from League One last season, so it is somewhat of a surprise to see them struggling towards the bottom of League Two, but there is still an awful lot of football to be played before the end of the campaign.

Michael Flynn's side beat Accrington Stanley 2-1 in their opening game of the month, but they suffered a 2-1 loss to Barrow last time out, so the hosts will be aiming to return to winning ways this weekend.

Cheltenham are actually unbeaten against Swindon in all competitions since March 2012, but this meeting will be the first time that they have locked horns in the league since August 2019.

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The last clash between these two sides took place in the FA Cup in November 2019, with Cheltenham running out 1-0 winners, while their last League Two clash in August 2019 finished 2-2.

Swindon will enter this match in the better form, going unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions, including their last two in the league, drawing with Tranmere Rovers and Harrogate Town.

Mark Kennedy's side were 4-0 winners over Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, meanwhile, as they managed to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Exeter City in their group-stage opener.

Swindon, who finished 19th in League Two last season, are currently 21st in the fourth tier, boasting a record of one win, five draws and four losses from their first 10 games of the campaign.

Goals have been an issue for Swindon this term, managing only nine in their first 10 matches, but Cheltenham have one of the poorer defensive records in the division in 2024-25, conceding 16 times.

Team News

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Cheltenham have not reported any fresh injury concerns from their clash with Barrow last time out, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field on Saturday.

Ryan Bowman has scored twice for his new club this season, and the forward will again operate in the final third of the field, while there will also be another start for Thomas Pett.

Joel Colwill has also been in strong form this season, contributing two goals from midfield, and the 19-year-old is set to continue in the starting side for this contest.

As for Swindon, Paul Glatzel scored twice in a standout performance against Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy, and he is now expected to be brought into the starting side in the league.

Glatzel replaced Kabongo Tshimanga off the bench against Harrogate in the league last weekend, and the latter is expected to miss out against Cheltenham due to an injury problem.

There are unlikely to be any major surprises in the Swindon side for this contest, with Aaron Drinan also set to feature in the final third of the field, with the 26-year-old still waiting for his first league goal of the season.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup: Evans; Kinsella, Stubbs, Bradbury, Shipley; Archer, Young; Colwill, Pett, Norkett; Bowman

Swindon Town possible starting lineup: Barden; Sobowale; Wright, Freckleton; McGregor, Cotterill, Kilkenny, Butterworth, Cox; Glatzel, Drinan

We say: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Swindon Town

Swindon have not exactly been full of goals this season, and they have only won once in the league in 2024-25, so it is difficult to back them with any real confidence. Cheltenham's form is not great, though, and we are struggling to find a winner here, ultimately settling on a low-scoring draw.

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