Promotion hopefuls Swindon Town and Stockport County meet at the County Ground in League Two on Saturday.

The hosts have a bit of work to do to get back in the promotion picture after a poor run of form recently.

Match preview

Swindon now find themselves down in 11th, eight points off the playoff places, but still with a game in hand which will be crucial.

It is not an impossible task but, with just 10 games remaining, the odds of them catching up the sides above them look slimmer by the week.

Drawing 4-4 despite leading 2-0 and 4-3 against bottom-of-the-table Rochdale at the weekend was yet another huge blow to their prospects of finishing in the top seven.

It means they are winless in their last four games while the teams above them have been winning to pull further away.

Being at home may not bring much comfort either, as Jody Morris's side have won just two of their last nine games at the County Ground.

Charlie Austin scored all four goals in their draw with Rochdale, and his experience and ability will be vital, as he took his tally to eight for the season despite only joining from Brisbane Roar in Australia in January.

Stopping goals at the other end will be equally important though, especially given their recent form, as no side in the league has let in more over the last 10 games.

With Swindon clinging onto slim hopes of the playoffs, Stockport are doing the same regarding automatic promotion.

However, one win and just two goals in their last five games have seriously dented their chances of doing so.

Dave Challinor's men now find themselves six points behind Carlisle United in third as Stockport's very strange run in the last five games has seen them both score and concede fewer than any team in League Two.

This barren run has come as something of a surprise considering they won five in a row during February.

That form suggested they were highly likely to catch Carlisle, who were going through indifferent form at the time, but Stockport's own shaky set of results have also now brought other sides into contention around them.

Team News

Swindon come into the fixture with some defensive injury issues to contend with.

Saidou Khan, Mathieu Baudry and Cian Harries are all out injured, but Tom Brewitt, who has recently arrived from Hartford Athletic in the US, has become a regular starter at the back.

George McEachran had settled in well after arriving following his release from Chelsea, but he went off in the first half last weekend and is doubtful.

Fraser Horsfall is unlikely to feature for Stockport after he went off injured at Colchester United two weeks ago.

Akil Wright took his place in the side as the central defender in a back three, and should do so once more.

Macaulay Southam-Hales, who has not featured since Boxing Day, is the other injury absentee for the visitors.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:
Brynn; Hutton, Brewitt, Clayton, Lavinier; Darcy, Cain, Williams; Hepburn-Murphy, Austin, Wakeling

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Byrne, Wright, Hussey; Knoyle, Collar, Croasdale, Sarcevic, Hippolyte; Madden, Wootten

We say: Swindon Town 1-1 Stockport County

Neither side is in great form, and both need a win as a draw will not do them many favours in reaching their desired targets.

However, it is tough to separate the sides, and despite scoring four at Rochdale last week, Swindon, like Stockport, have not been overly prolific recently.


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