Preview: Swindon Town vs. Forest Green Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Forest Green Rovers will be bidding to strengthen their grip on first position in League Two when they make the trip to playoff hopefuls Swindon Town on Tuesday night.

The visitors are currently three points clear of second-placed Exeter City at the summit, while Swindon sit 10th, just two points behind seventh-placed Sutton United on the same number of games (43).

Match preview

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Swindon will enter Tuesday's clash with the league leaders off the back of a 3-0 victory over Hartlepool United on Saturday, which has left them in 10th position in the table, just two points behind seventh-placed Sutton.

The Robins, who were relegated from League One last season, are very much in the running for a playoff spot this term and will be aiming to collect maximum points from their final three games of the regular league season against Forest Green, Barrow and Walsall.

Ben Garner's side have found it difficult to secure regular wins in front of their own supporters this season, picking up just 28 points from their 21 matches on home soil, but two wins from their last three games has placed them in a strong position to firmly challenge for a top-seven spot.

Swindon recorded a 2-0 victory over Forest Green when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match earlier this season, and they have actually won their last two fixtures against Tuesday's opponents, which should hand them confidence ahead of the contest with the league leaders.

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Forest Green, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a goalless draw with Bristol Rovers on Saturday, which left them top of the table, boasting 83 points from their 43 matches.

Rovers are three points clear of second-placed Exeter on the same number of games, and their point against Bristol Rovers was enough for them to secure promotion to League One for the first time in their history.

Rob Edwards's side have been top of League Two for much of the campaign, so it would be fitting if they were crowned the champions, and it will be fascinating to see how they perform in the third tier next term.

Rovers have impressed on their travels this season, picking up 37 points from 21 matches, suffering only two defeats in the process, and they will fancy their chances of finishing the campaign unbeaten.

Edwards's team will take on Harrogate Town in their penultimate match of the season before visiting Mansfield Town on May 7, and the latter are currently battling for a playoff spot, so it could be a huge clash in Nottinghamshire at the start of next month.

Team News

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Swindon boss Garner made four changes to his starting side for the clash with Hartlepool last time out, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this contest.

Indeed, Lewis Ward, Mathieu Baudry and Jonny Williams were all introduced into the side, while there was a return from injury for Harry McKirdy, who netted a brace in County Durham.

Jojo Wollacott and Joe Tomlinson were both missing on Saturday through injury, and the pair are also expected to be absent for the contest on Tuesday night.

As for Forest Green, Ben Stevenson was a doubt against Bristol Rovers due to a knock, but the midfielder was passed fit and played the full 90 minutes of the contest.

As a result, the visitors could be unchanged for this match, with Josh March and Dominic Bernard likely to be on the bench.

Jamille Matt has scored 18 times in League Two during the 2021-22 campaign, and the 32-year-old is set to feature in the final third of the field once again.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Ward; Egbo, Baudry, Conroy, Iandolo; Payne, Reed, Williams; McKirdy, Davison, Barry

Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:

McGee; Godwin-Malife, Moore-Taylor, Cargill; Wilson, Stevenson, Hendry, Cadden; Matt, Adams, Aitchison

We say: Swindon Town 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

A draw is no good for Swindon as they chase a playoff spot, but they will be the underdogs against the current league leaders. Forest Green are still bidding to finish first, meanwhile, and we are expecting the two teams to play out a low-scoring draw on Tuesday night.