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

After a number of coronavirus-related postponements, Northampton Town will return to action on New Year's Day as they make the trip to the County Ground to face Swindon Town.

The hosts enter the fixture in seventh place in League Two, while Northampton find themselves in second position.

Match preview

Swindon will be aiming to halt their current poor run of form on Saturday as they look to end a four-game winless league run.

A goalless home draw against Stevenage on Wednesday saw Swindon collect just their second point in their last four league games.

Those recent poor results have dropped Ben Garner's side down the League Two table, but they can be comforted by the fact that they enter the weekend still in the playoff places.

Garner will hope that his side can rediscover their goalscoring touch after failing to score in their previous two matches.

Surprisingly, Swindon have performed better away from home this season, having won just twice at the County Ground in League Two this term, but they have shown improvement of late as they enter Saturday's contest unbeaten in their last three home league games.

Meanwhile, Northampton will take to the field for the first time since December 11 after a number of coronavirus cases in their squad resulted in the postponement of their last three games.

Jon Brady will be hoping that his team can pick up where they left off after winning their previous four matches, and they head into the New Year's Day contest unbeaten in their last five outings.

In their most recent fixture, goals from Fraser Horsfall and Jon Guthrie helped the Cobblers to a 2-1 away victory over Harrogate Town.

That victory continued their current positive run of form that has seen Northampton insert themselves firmly into the League Two promotion picture, and after avoiding defeat in their last three away games, they will be confident of picking up at least a point on Saturday.

A strong defence has been key to the Cobblers' success this term, with Brady's side collecting 10 clean sheets, while only Tranmere Rovers have conceded fewer league goals than Northampton.

Team News

Swindon are still without Dion Conroy, who will serve the final match of his two-game suspension.

Mathieu Baudry will also be absent for Saturday's hosts due to injury.

Garner may make a couple of changes to freshen up the starting lineup, with Tyreece Simpson and Jonny Williams potential options to come into the side.

Despite a long break between games, Northampton could name an unchanged lineup from the side that beat Harrogate.

That could mean that Nicke Kabamba keeps his place in the side after starting in Northampton's most recent fixture.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Wollacott; Kesler, Odimayo, Hunt, Iandolo; Reed, Gladwin, Williams; Mitchell-Lawson, Payne, Simpson

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:

Roberts; McGowan, Horsfall, Guthrie, Koiki; Pinnock, Sowerby, Lewis, Hoskins; Kabamba, Rose

We say: Swindon Town 1-1 Northampton Town

We expect a close contest with both sides in the promotion hunt, and that could lead to a cagey encounter that ends all square as the two teams settle for a point apiece.