Town will be looking to continue in similar form this weekend, with a journey to Salford up next for Swindon this weekend in their latest league test.
Salford have had a tough start to 2023/24, with the the Ammies looking to return to the familiar form last season, which saw them finish 7th in the fourth tier and narrowly lose to Stockport in the semi-final play-offs.
A form record of five wins, one draw and seven losses in their first 13 games sees Salford occupy the 16th position in League Two currently, with their most recent result seeing an unfortunate last-minute 3-2 defeat to Welsh side Wrexham last time out.
A lowdown on the visitors
Founded in 1940 as Salford Central, the football club initially competed in local leagues for young players. Early success came in the form of two Division 2 titles in 1955-56 and 1959-1960, along with the Division 3 title in 1958-59.
In 1963, the club adopted the name Salford Amateurs, earning them the nickname 'The Ammies.' They also moved up to the Manchester League Division 1 and clinched the title in 1968-69, securing promotion to the Premier Division.
In 2013-14, significant changes occurred as members of the Class of '92, including Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, and others, took over the club, with Singaporean businessman Peter Lim acquiring a 50% stake. With this fresh start came a new crest and red shirts, and a successful season under new management.
In the 2014-15 season, Salford made an impact in the NPL Premier Division and progressed in the FA Cup, reaching unprecedented levels of competition. The club continued to rise in the football world.
The 2016-17 season marked the beginning of transformative developments, including plans for a 5,000-capacity stadium suitable for the Football League. The club maintained strong league performances and earned a play-off spot.
Summer 2017 marked a groundbreaking shift as Salford City turned professional and introduced an academy. They assembled a full-time squad, securing another promotion. Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley's departure brought Graham Alexander as the manager.
The 2018-19 season witnessed further success for the newly formed Salford City Lionesses. In their debut season, they clinched multiple titles.
Salford City's entry into the Football League in 2019-20 began with a memorable win against Stevenage but saw fluctuations in form due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club secured its first EFL silverware by winning the EFL Trophy.
The 2020-21 season marked changes in management, and Salford made strides in the Carabao Cup but experienced inconsistencies in league form. Václav Hladky's goalkeeping prowess and solid defence garnered recognition.
In the 2021-22 season, under Gary Bowyer, the club secured a 10th-place finish. In May 2022, Neil Wood became the Head Coach, bringing a new playing style and emphasis on player development. A strong start put Salford at the top of League Two, and Brandon Thomas-Asante earned a move to West Bromwich Albion, as the club continues to push for a promotion to the third tier for the first time after a play-off semi-final defeat last season, but a difficult start to the current 23/24 season.
Last time out
This fixture has been a more recent contest between the two sides, with Town being the more successful of the two, with three wins, one draw and only one defeat in five encounters.
That victory streak includes their most recent tie between the two, with the February 2023 contest seeing Swindon coming out as 2-1 winners. A Jacob Wakeling wonder goal and an Elliot Watt own goal cancelling out the early Ryan Watson opener to give Town all three points last time out.
Head-to-head
22/23: Salford City 1-2 Swindon Town
22/23: Swindon Town 0-0 Salford City
21/22: Swindon Town 1-2 Salford City
21/22: Salford City 0-1 Swindon Town
19/20: Salford City 2-3 Swindon Town
The manager: Neil Wood
Manager Wood was appointed in May 2022 following tenures within the Manchester United and Aston Villa academies. As a player, the 40-year-old represented the likes of Peterborough United, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool, Burnley and Coventry City, as well as spells abroad for FK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo and Royal Antwerp respectively.
One to watch: Matt Smith
A proven goalscorer across the National League and League Two, 34-year-old Matt Smith will be looking to add to his nine goals and one assist in 13 games to start the 23/24 season. Having initially joined the Accies after a prolific spell in the higher EFL divisions, Cook will be looking to add to his currently impressive goalscoring tally for Salford and in previous clubs, to lift his side up the table.
