Swindon Town travel to the Britania Stadium to face Stoke City tonight in the Second Round of the League Cup.

Form Guide… 

Swindon have made an unbeaten start to the season without conceding a goal. Brighton & Hove Albion were dispatched 3-0 in the televised First Round match a fortnight ago, courtesy of Paul Benson and a double from Alan Navarro.

Away from the County Ground, Swindon are unbeaten in 2 games, both ending as goalless draws against Bradford City and Hartlepool United.

The Potters have drawn both their opening Premier League games – 1-1 against Reading and 0-0 with Arsenal on Sunday – making it 6 draws in a row after pre-season friendly matches against Kansas City Wizards, Torquay, Yeovil and Greuther Furth finished a goal apiece.

At the Britainia, Stoke are unbeaten in 8 games. Their last defeat was a 0-1 defeat by Valencia in the  first leg of their Europa League last 32 clash on 16th February.

Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk Head-to-Head…

In all League, FA Cup and Football League competitions, Town have faced Stoke City on 25 occasions, winning 11, drawing 5 and defeated 9 times; scoring 37 and conceding 31.

Away, Swindon have 2 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats, scoring 8 and conceding 15. Town have not won in Stoke in 2 attempts, the last victory a 2-1 win in Division One on 30th August 1997 with late goals from Wayne Allison and Chris Hay.

Including matches only in the League Cup, Swindon are unbeaten, with 1 win and 1 draw – a League Cup Third Round tie in September and October 1979.

Swindon have lost all four recent encounters; 0-3, 1-4, 0-3 and 0-2, however the sides have not met since April 2002.

Swindon-town-fc.co.uk Memorable Match… Swindon 6 Stoke City 0 | Division Two | 4th November 1989

Play-off chasing Swindon welcomed Stoke City who were languishing in the relegation zone and put six past the Potters, our biggest victory over the Staffordshire side.

After an 8th minute Alan McLoughlin opener in front of the Town End, Swindon ran riot. Duncan Shearer fired his first of the game with a powerful shot from distance to make it 2-0 at half time.

The returning Dave Bamber managed to get on the score sheet shortly after the break, the ball deflecting in off his chest from a corner for an own goal while unchallenged. The fourth came courtesy of Steve White tapping in a Paul Bodin cross. Shearer grabbed his second and Town’s fifth running clear to fire home. ‘Chalky’ White completed the rout with his second coming at the far post from a cross, and unchallenged, in very similar circumstances to his first.

My prediction… 

Swindon defeated our last Premier League opponents – Wigan Athletic – back in an FA Cup Third Round tie in January, but whether Town have any chance tonight will depend on how seriously Tony Pulis prioritises the League Cup.

We have a history of playing well against higher league opposition in the League Cup so like games against Leeds in 2003 and Wolves in 2009 this one will probably end up being decided on penalties, which we typically lose…

Come on You Reds!

unfortunately no stats this week, but they will return soon…