Match Preview: Swindon vs Accrington Stanley

Form… 1st placed Swindon are currently on a run of one defeat – at Torquay on Boxing Day – in nineteen League Two matches. Town’s current form guide reads eight League wins in a row.

At the County Ground, Town are unbeaten since August, making it twelve games without tasting defeat and 32 points from a possible 36. Swindon have won their last six games as hosts with only one goal conceded in eight games.

11th placed Accrington have lost their last three League Two matches having won once, drawn once and lost four of their past six outings.

Away from Lancashire, Stanley are without a win in three games after a run of two win, two draws and two defeats.

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If Swindon… win then we will set a new club record of nine consecutive Football League victories.

The current record of eight wins 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… Town have faced sides from Accrington 7 times, with a record of 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats for Swindon, scoring 7 and conceding 7.

At the County Ground, Town have 1 win and 2 defeats, with 3 scored and 3 conceded.

Town won the previous meeting 2-0 at Accrington earlier this season thanks to goals from loanees Jake Jervis and Christian Montano.

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History book… Perhaps more famous for a 1980’s milk advertisement than for their footballing prowess, the first Accrington Stanley club were formed in 1891 as Stanley Villa, before being elected to the league as founder members of the Third Division (North) in 1921.

The original club were wound up in 1962 – being replaced in the League by O*ford United – by a strange symmetry, when the new Accrington Stanley club regained their league place by winning the Conference in 2006, Oxford were the team that made way for them.

The two sides didn’t meet until the Third Division was de-regionalised in 1958 – Stanley coming away from the County Ground with a 2-1 victory in September, before the teams played out a 0-0 draw the following February. The first meeting with the new Stanley club came soon after their promotion, Lee Peacock equalising for Swindon in a 1-1 draw at the Fraser Eagle Stadium in October 2006.

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What The Stats Say… The match sees the most efficient (Swindon) meet the 13th most efficient side in the division meet, according to our latest rankings.

Our analysis show Accrington are ranked 13th based on their home form compared to 15th away.

On their travels, Accrington are ranked much stronger in defence. Their ranking of 7th is as a result of an impressive 6th fewest amount of opponent shots per game and a divisional 5th best 81% of all shots saved.

In attack, Stanley are ranked 19th, highlighting their poor conversion rate of 14 away goals this season. That has been as a result of a lack of shots (8.3 per match), combined with a poor 48% on target and a strike rate of a goal for every 1o shots.

Accrington haven’t scored in time added on this season and of their 14 goals, the highest frequency of goals (5) have been scored between minutes 61-75.

In defence, Accrington have only conceded 16 on their travels, which makes them the joint fourth best defence in the division. They seem to have a habit for conceding in the middle of the first half with 6 flying into the net between 16-30 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 64% | Accrington Win 12% | Draw 24%

Full time result: Swindon 1-0 16% | Swindon 2-0 14%| Swindon 1-1 11% | Swindon 3-0 10% | Swindon 0-1 6%

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My prediction… It has to be another win to make it a club record nine in a row…doesn’t it…?

Accrington do look strong in defence on their travels, but the past two matches have proven Town have enough fight and determination to secure the essential and ugly win.

Looking like a 1-0 to Swindon with the goal scored between 61-75 minutes.

One comment

  • Mike's avatar

    I hope you’re right Ron but it always seems harder when there’s a record at stake.

    I remember the Burnley game in 1986 and us going 0-1 down before coming back to win 3-1. I can see them being hard to break down. The record would be nice but for me the most important thing is 3 points to consolidate our position at the top.

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