In the rescheduled League Two match, Swindon Town entertain Shrewsbury Town at the County Ground this evening, 7.45pm kick-off.

Form… Third placed Swindon are currently on a run of one defeat – at Torquay on Boxing Day – in eighteen League Two matches. Town’s current form guide reads seven league wins in a row.

At the County Ground, Town are unbeaten since August, making it eleven games without defeat and 29 points from a possible 33. Swindon have won their last five games as hosts and Wes Foderingham hasn’t conceded in seven games.

Fourth placed Shrewsbury Town are unbeaten in two games, having won against Bristol Rovers and Barnet, with a record of five victories and one defeat – at Torquay – in six League Two outings.

Away from Shropshire, Shrewsbury won their previous outing at Barnet with two victories, one draw and three defeats in six games.

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If Swindon… win tonight then we will equal a club record of eight consecutive Football League victories.

This record was first set in the 1926/27 season in Division Three South under Sam Allen, when Town went unbeaten from 6th November to 28th December; beating Newport County, Gillingham, Crystal Palace, Aberdare Athletic, QPR, and Merthyr Town (twice).

Lou Macari also guided Town to eight consecutive victories in Division Four on the way to the title in 1985/86; beating Southend United, Wrexham, Northampton, Stockport, Preston, Exeter, Rochdale and Burnley between 12th January and 15th March. Impressively, Lou’s run included six wins in a row away from the County Ground.

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Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk Head-to-Head… The sides have faced each 53 times, with a record of 24 wins, 14 draws and 15 defeats for Swindon, scoring 79 and conceding 71.

At the County Ground, Town have 14 wins, 7 draws and 6 defeats from the 27 played.

Town were defeated 2-1 at the New Meadow back in August, meaning that Swindon have won 7 of the previous 10 matches between the sides.

There hasn’t been a draw in this fixture in twelve attempts, since a goalless match in Shrewsbury in August 1978.

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History book… After forty-three years of Third Division football in Swindon, promotion to Division Two was finally secured in a match against Shrewsbury in 1963, in front of over 20,000 at the County Ground. In a tense match, the Town finally broke the deadlock in the 89th minute, when Roger Smart’s shot eluded both the Shrews’ keeper Miller and a defender on its way into the net.

Prior to that game, Shrewsbury recorded their highest ever league victory against the Town on the final day of the 1954/55 season – Raymond Weigh scoring four of the goals in the Shrews’ 7-0 win. Just over two years later, Shrewsbury again notched seven past Swindon, this time winning 7-3.

The Town were also drawn against Shrewsbury in the inaugural League Cup competition in 1960 –  the first ever match in the competition ending in a 1-1 draw, with Cliff Jackson scoring for Swindon. The Shrews went on to progress – winning the replay at the County Ground 2-0 after extra time, after the two legged tie failed to produce a victor.

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What The Stats Say… The match sees the most efficient (Swindon) meet the third most efficient (Shrewsbury) sides in the division meet, according to our latest rankings.

Our rankings show Shrewsbury are ranked 3rd based on home and 7th away.

On their travels, Shrewsbury have picked up 1.3 points per game compared to 2.6 at home. They appear to have suffered from allowing an above average number of shots by their opponents (11.4 per game – ranked 14th) and of those shots 50% force the ‘keeper into a save. Their ‘keeper’s save rate of 77% is ranked 9th best.

In attack, Shrewsbury shoot on average 9.1 times per match which is ranked 16th. However with limited shots that do test the ‘keeper and find the net with 53% on target and a conversion rate of 15%.

Shrewsbury have scored 23 goals on their travels with them at their most dangerous during the final 15 minutes with 8 scored.

In defence, Shrewsbury have conceded 22 away, with the majority during the second half and six conceded during minutes 16-30 and 76+.

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

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My prediction… Shrewsbury have not matched their excellent home form on their travels, which sees them thoroughly mid-table when judged on their away form alone.

Meanwhile Town have been superior at the County Ground since Hereford’s comeback in October and with the chance to equal a club record tonight surely Swindon have enough to make it eight wins in a row…. in a 2-0 victory.