BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Swindon Town V Salford City

Get ready for today's game

26 February 2022

Swindon Town will be looking to make it four wins on the bounce when they entertain Salford City at The County Ground this afternoon.

Ben Garner's team are back in EFL Sky Bet League Two action later - 3pm Kick-Off - having won three on the bounce with three straight clean sheets and 11 goals scored.

Salford, meanwhile, come into today's game on the cusp of the Play-Off places and they will be hoping to pick up a big win in order to keep pace with the rest of the pack.

Allow us to get you set for a big game of football today...

LAST TIME WE MET...

Jack Payne scored the only goal of the game early in the second-half as Town secured a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Salford earlier this season.

TICKET NEWS

Town fans can purchase tickets in person prior to kick-off, and online right up until half-time by clicking HERE.

TEAM NEWS

Dion Conroy is back in contention for the Reds but Ben Gladwin remains out, while today might come too soon for Jack Payne, who is continuing his recovery from a knee injury.

For Salford, they will be without Donald Love, Ash Eastham, Josh Morris and Ian Henderson, while Matty Willock and Luke Burgess will hope to be back in contention.

A WORD FROM THE TOWN CAMP

Ben Garner, Swindon Town Head Coach: "There’s certainly been a change in style from when we played them earlier in the season to how they’re playing now, but they’re on the edge of the Play-Offs and obviously looking to push on and they’ll have ambitions to do that, so, you know, they’ve recruited in January and that’s given them a focal point in terms of Matt Smith that they brought in and they’re a good team.

"Experienced, lots of depth there and a good manager in Gary Bowyer, so, we’re well aware of what a tough challenge it's going to be.

"As always, we need to fully respect that but certainly have no fear whatsoever and go in and impose ourselves and play our game."

ONE TO WATCH

MATT SMITH - Salford pulled off quite the coup in January when they signed the towering frontman to an 18-month contract following his departure from Millwall.

A proven goalscorer in the EFL, Smith has scored goals at every level he's played at, and his height and excellence in the air will make him a key focal point in the Salford attack.

Everything The Ammies do today will no doubt go through Smith, and the Town back-line will have to be prepared for a physical battle if they want to come out on top this afternoon.

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

Barrow v Harrogate Town (3pm)

Bradford City v Mansfield Town (3pm)

Bristol Rovers v Exeter City (3pm)

Colchester United v Oldham Athletic (3pm)

Crawley Town v Forest Green Rovers (3pm)

Leyton Orient v Carlisle United (3pm)

Newport County v Tranmere Rovers (3pm)

Port Vale v Stevenage (3pm)

Rochdale v Tranmere Rovers (3pm)

Sutton United v Scunthorpe United

Walsall v Hartlepool United

OFFICIALS

Referee - John Busby

Assistant Referee - Mark Derrien

Assistant Referee - Graham Kane

Fourth Official - Craig Hick

FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE

Not at The County Ground today? Don’t panic because there are numerous ways to keep up to date with all the action.

Live updates will be available on our Twitter and Facebook pages, in addition to our Match Centre on the website, which can be found at the top of the home page on matchdays.

In the wake of the game, https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/ will be the place to go with a full report, reaction and pictures available to view and read through shortly after the final whistle.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 1-2 Salford City

Tough afternoon for the Reds

26 February 2022

Swindon Town suffered a tough 2-1 loss to Salford City in the EFL Sky Bet League Two at The County Ground this afternoon.

There were not too many golden opportunities in a scoreless first-half, but Harry McKirdy's header gave the hosts the lead with 10 minutes gone after the break.

However, Liam Shephard and Ryan Watson both found the back of the net in the second-half to give Salford the win and all three points.

For the third straight game Head Coach Ben Garner named an unchanged Starting XI, refusing to tinker with a team that had scored 11 goals and kept three straight clean sheets.

It was a tightly-contested start to the game with both teams battling for the ball in the middle of the pitch, with neither side giving an inch.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between with Matt Smith flicking a tame header at Jojo Wollacott, while Josh Davison did brilliantly to keep the ball from going out of play at the other end under pressure, but his eventual shot was blocked and deflected into the arms of Tom King.

Ricky Aguiar drove forward into space and opted to pull the trigger, but his shot lacked power and it was an easy enough save for King.

Salford nearly and should have took the lead with half-an-hour played as Matt Smith sent a header against the bar from Ash Hunter's cross, and Wollacott did superbly to get across to claw away Liam Shephard's rebound attempt on the line.

Town responded as Louie Barry's through ball found Harry McKirdy who had space to get a shot away, but the forward's effort was blocked by the legs of King.

Salford arguably had the better of the chances in the first-half and they came closest before the break, with Ryan Watson running onto a loose ball before smashing a strike towards goal, which clipped off the post and went out of play, signalling the end of the first-half.

HALF-TIME: SWINDON TOWN 0-0 SALFORD CITY

Town came out swinging in the second-half and they came close to taking the lead with Aguiar letting rip from 30-yards out, forcing King into a fine save.

Ellis Iandolo then saw his deflected shot tipped around the post by King, with the resulting corner leading to the first goal of the game as McKirdy was able to head home at the back post from a Joe Tomlinson delivery.

Town nearly doubled their lead moments later as a low cross found Barry at the back post, but he was met by the onrushing King who was able to get to the ball first and clear the danger.

However, it was the visitors who scored next with Liam Shephard smashing home from close-range from Ash Hunter's pinpoint cross.

Town then made a change as Harry McKirdy made way for Jonny Williams, before Aguiar dragged a shot wide after being teed up by Iandolo.

Another change swiftly followed with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson replacing Louie Barry, but it didn't have the desired effect with Watson flicking home from a corner to give the visitors a late lead.

Town made one final change with Harry Parsons replacing Rob Hunt, but it proved too little too late with Salford holding on to return home with all three points.

FULL-TIME: SWINDON TOWN 1-2 SALFORD CITY

TEAMS AND STATS

SWINDON TOWN STARTING XI - Wollacott; Iandolo, Davison, McKirdy (Jonny Williams 66), Cooper, O'Brien, Barry (Jayden Mitchell-Lawson 77), Tomlinson, Hunt (C) (Harry Parsons 89), Reed, Aguiar.

SUBS NOT USED - Ward, Odimayo, Baudry, East.

SCORERS - Harry McKirdy (55).

SALFORD CITY STARTING XI - King; Lowe (C), Ndaba, Watson, Hunter (Conor McAleny 78), Turnbull, Kelly, Smith (Luke Bolton 70), Shephard (Matty Lund 70), Thomas-Asante, Vassell.

SUBS NOT USED - Torrance, Love, Touray, Loughlan.

SCORERS - Liam Shephard (66), Ryan Watson (85).

BOOKED - Stephen Kelly.

REFEREE - John Busby.

Attendance - 10,153 (94 Away Fans).