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

Swindon Town take on Newport County at the County Ground on Tuesday night in one of four League Two matches.

The Robins are looking to bounce back from a home defeat on Saturday, while Newport will be aiming to make it two away wins in a row.

Match preview

Despite losing against Northampton Town on Saturday, Swindon's form has taken an uptick recently, having won three games on the spin in League Two prior to that, after a slow start in which The Robins failed to win any of their first four league games.

Scott Lindsey's side were impressive when winning courtesy of a 92nd-minute goal against Sutton in September, before going on to record away wins at Doncaster Rovers and Grimsby Town, this run ultimately coming to a halt against Northampton in a late 2-1 defeat.

Currently occupying 10th place, Swindon are just three points from the playoffs, where they came unstuck against Port Vale in the semi-final last season, so they will be eager to go one better this time and seal promotion back to League One after two seasons in the EFL's bottom division.

A big miss for the Robins is Harry McKirdy, who departed the County Ground for Hibernian at the end of August, with the midfielder scoring 21 goals in 37 goals last season. However, in his absence Jacob Wakeling has really stepped up to the plate, having four goals and three assists to his name this campaign and earning himself a new contract lasting until 2026.

Newport will come into Tuesday's game full of confidence after becoming the first team to beat league leaders Leyton Orient this season on Saturday, with a surprise 2-1 win coming courtesy of first-half goals from Will Evans and Omar Bogle.

It was a much-needed win for James Rowberry's side, and could be the turning point for the Welsh outfit, who have had a disappointing start to the season, in 16th place with just 11 points in 11 games.

However, seven of these points have come on the road, with The Exiles also notching an impressive 4-0 victory at Harrogate Town at the end of August, so they will travel to the County Ground knowing they are more than capable of causing Swindon problems.

The fixture schedule has not been kind to Newport, which could account for why they are yet to put a proper run together, having faced five of League Two's top six already this season and facing another tough test in Swindon on Saturday.

They will head into the game six points behind their opponents, knowing the playoffs will be even further in the distance if they do not get a result.

Key to his team's chances will be Omar Bogle, with the striker scoring six league goals this season, the most recent of which a coolly taken penalty at the weekend that saw the Englishman already beat his league scoring record across the whole of last season when playing for Hartlepool.

Team News

Despite the defeat to Northampton on Saturday, Swindon boss Scott Lindsey will be pleased with the recent form of his team, and so is unlikely to make any major changes for Tuesday's game.

Current Wales international Jonathan Williams scored the opener at the weekend, his third goal of the season, and will almost certainly get the nod again on the left wing of Swindon's preferred 4-3-3 formation, with Jacob Wakeling a cert on the opposite flank.

Summer signing Rushian Hepburn-Murphy's troubles with injury continued when the striker picked up a tear in his hamstring tendon in the away fixture against Grimsby, consequently Luke Jephcott is likely to keep his place and start up front.

For Newport, defender Scot Bennett is once again available for selection having served a suspension in the last match against Leyton Orient, although given the result James Rowberry may stick by Priestley Farquharson, who replaced Bennett at the back.

A major doubt for the Welsh side is forward Thierry Nevers, who also missed out against Leyton Orient with a back problem, although it is not thought of as a long-term issue.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Hutton, MacDonald, Clayton, Blake-Tracey; Darcy, Reed, Gladwin; Wakeling, Williams, Jephcott

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Townsend; Clarke, Farquharson, Demetriou; Lewis, Lindley, Wildig, Moriah-Welsh, Lewis; Evans, Bogle

We say: Swindon Town 1-1 Newport County

Swindon have started to turn their form around recently and will be eager to put right the defeat against Northampton on Saturday, but we think Newport will be good enough to get a point at the County Ground, especially given their win at league leaders Leyton Orient on Saturday.

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