Form… Fifth placed Swindon now have two games in hand over our promotion chasing rivals and are four points behind leaders Cheltenham Town.

Town are currently on a run of one defeat – at Torquay on Boxing Day – in sixteen League Two matches. Town’s current form guide reads five wins and that one defeat in the previous six League Two outings, including the current unbeaten run of five victories against Northampton, AFC Wimbledon, Rotherham, Macclesfield and Southend.

At the County Ground, Town are unbeaten since August, making it ten games without defeat and 26 points from a possible 30. Swindon have won their past four games as hosts and haven’t conceded in six games.

Second placed Crawley Town are unbeaten in five with a record of two victories, three draws and one defeat from their previous six outings in League Two.

Away from Sussex, the Devils are without a win in four games, having drawn at recent visits to Crewe, Oxford, Bristol Rovers and Plymouth, but they are unbeaten in their last nine games.

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Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk Head-to-Head… The sides have faced each three times previously with a record of one won, one draw and one defeat for Swindon; scoring six and conceding four.

The League Two encounter at Crawley back in September was a real turning point in our season. The 3-0 victory – thanks to Alan Connell and a Medhi Kerrouche double – gave Swindon a first league away victory and equally importantly one over Steve Evans.

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What The Stats Say… Crawley are ranked the 4th most efficient side in League Two according to our latest combined home and away League Two rankings. Swindon hold 3rd position.

Our rankings show the Red Devils are ranked 2nd based on home and 4th away efficiency.

On their travels, Crawley restrict their opponents to a division best of 8 shots per game. Of those 8 shots, a fourth fewest percentage of shots are allowed to hit the target (46%). Add to this, Crawley’s opponents have only had 3.2 corners per game (ranked 1st) and 51.3% possession (ranked 7th) and it appears you’ll be facing the best defence in the division.

Not quite… Crawley will only save 60.4% of all shots on target, which is the worst record of any team in League Two on their travels.

Turning to Crawley’s attacking areas, they shoot an awful lot (11.6 per game – ranked 2nd), however a division worst of 38% find the target. They are not even that efficient beating the keeper with 12.6% of shots scored – ranked 13th).

This perhaps highlights why Crawley have been relatively shot-shy on their travels, scoring just 19 goals. Crawley have been most dangerous in the 15 minutes after half time when six goals have been scored.

In defence, Crawley have conceded 19 away, with 11 conceded in the first half and 8 of those within the opening 30 minutes.

As I keep saying…..Swindon Town have still yet to concede in time added on home or away this season…

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Kickoff.co.uk Prediction… 

Result: Swindon Win 56% | Crawley Win 18% | Draw 26%

Full time result: Swindon 1-0 14% | Swindon 2-0 12%| Swindon 1-1 12% | Swindon 2-1 10% | Swindon 0-1 8%

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My prediction… This match will be our toughest match at the County Ground in League Two since Gillingham turned up in October. Yet, Crawley are no masters on their travels – as their run of four successive draws shows – and Swindon remain confident having gone unbeaten in ten games and without conceding at home in six.

Despite losing talisman striker Matt Tubbs, Crawley hit four past Cheltenham last week, so Wes Foderingham remains in real danger of conceding – particularly in a defence weakened by the injured Aden Flint.

I’m sure we’ll continue our excellent home form and move back above Crawley in the table… 2-1 to Swindon.