Form… 5th placed Swindon have been unbeaten in their past ten League Two games and five cup games.

Away from the County Ground, Town have won three, drawn two and defeated once in their previous six League Two games. In all competitions Swindon are undefeated in eight games, when only four goals have been conceded.

12th placed Torquay United are performing well under former Town favourite Martin Ling, being mid table and within reaching distance of the Play-Offs. After a drop in form in September and early October which saw the Gulls drop to 18th, Torquay have won four, drawn once and defeated once in their previous six games. At Plainmoor, Torquay have won four, drawn once and defeated once in six games and entertain Swindon on the back of four straight home League Two victories.

Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk Head-to-Head… Torquay inflicted the Town’s worst ever Football League defeat in 1952 – scoring nine goals without reply after Town keeper Norman Uprichard left the field with concussion in the first half. Right half Harry Kaye and left back Harry May both took turns in goal, but were powerless to prevent the Gulls notching up their huge total – despite Swindon beating Torquay in both the League and the Cup earlier in the season!

Fifteen years earlier, Swindon broke their record transfer fee to bring Ben Morton to the County Ground from Plainmoor – the striker becoming the club’s first four figure signing. It took Morton until his twelfth game to score for the Town, when he netted against First Division Grimsby in the FA Cup.

In total Swindon have met Torquay United on 96 occasions, winning 38, drawing 27 and defeated 31 times; scoring 157 and conceding 153.

At Plainmoor, Town have registered 9 victories, 13 draws and 21 defeats from the 43 games played.

What The Stats Say… Torquay United are ranked 14th best in League Two according to our latest League Two efficiency rankings.

Our rankings show Torquay more efficient at Plainmoor with a home ranking of 11th, compared to 16th away.

As hosts, the key areas where the Gulls have performed well are; restricting their opponents to 47% shots on target (ranked 8th) and controlling an average of 52% possession per game.

Looking at their attack at home, Torquay hit the fifth highest total shots per game with an average of 13, with a 16.7% strike rate equating to 6th highest in League Two.

The Gulls have scored 24 goals at Plainmoor, with a staggering 14 of those scored in the 30 minutes either side of half time (6 during 31-45 mins and 8 during 46-60 mins) and 16 in the second half.

In defence, Torquay have conceded 17 at home with 5 let in during the opening 15 minutes of play. The stats also show Torquay are vulnerable at the start and end of each half with 4 conceded in the 15 minutes before half time, 4 between 46-60 minutes and another 4 post 76 minutes. So Torquay don’t concede in the middle period of each half.

Of the 11 goals we’ve scored away we’ve still yet to score in the opening 15 minutes, but this may change given that seems a weakness in Torquay’s play this season.

Interestingly….Town have still yet to concede in time added on home or away this season…

Kickoff.co.uk Prediction… 

% Chance of Full Time Result: Swindon win: 52% | Torquay win: 21% | Draw: 27%

% Chance of Scoreline: Torquay 0 Swindon 1: 14% | Torquay 1 Swindon 1: 13% | Torquay 0  Swindon 2: 11% | Torquay 1 Swindon 2: 10% | Torquay 1 Swindon 0: 8%

My prediction… With Torquay unbeaten at Plainmoor in four matches and Swindon on this 15 game unbeaten run this will be a tough game. However I said that before the Morecambe match and we calmly turned them over 3-0. We do seem to be winning one then drawing the next, but instead of predicting another 1-1 draw, I’ll say it’s a 2-1 away victory.