BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Swindon Town V Scunthorpe United

Get ready for Saturday's big game

11 February 2022

Swindon Town will be looking for a return to winning ways when they take on Scunthorpe United at The County Ground on Saturday.

Ben Garner's team are on the hunt for a huge three points with the Iron the visitors to SN1 tomorrow afternoon - 3pm Kick-Off.

It is a massive game for both teams with the Reds looking to snap a recent skid, while Scunthorpe are hoping to build off their win in midweek and start to climb off the bottom of the table.

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

LAST TIME WE MET

It was an opening day to remember for Town who, despite entering the 2021-22 EFL Sky Bet League Two season as favourites to go down, went to Glanford Park and absolutely dismantled the Iron in a hugely impressive 3-1 win.

Goals from Jack Payne, Ben Gladwin and Harry McKirdy sealed the three points on 7th August 2021.

LAST FIVE

Season / Date	Competition	Result	Town Scorers
2021-22 - 7 Aug (A)	Sky Bet League Two	1-3	Payne (pen), Gladwin, McKirdy
2019-20 - 3 Mar (H)	Sky Bet League Two	2-0	Doyle (2)
2019-20 - 3 Aug (A)	Sky Bet League Two	0-2	Yates, Anderson
2016-17 - 22 Apr (H)	Sky Bet League One	1-2	Ince
2016-17 - 29 Oct (A)	Sky Bet League One	4-1	Thompson

FULL RECORD V SCUNTHORPE UNITED

P	W	D	L	F	A
30	13	7	10	48	51

TICKET NEWS

Town fans can buy tickets online and in-store right now.

Tickets will be able to be purchased on Saturday online right up until kick-off.

TEAM NEWS

Both Jonny Williams (groin) and Dion Conroy (Achilles) have been ruled out for tomorrow, while Jack Payne (knee) will be assessed after training today.

A WORD FROM BOTH CAMPS

Swindon Exeter_cf1_0043.jpg

Ben Garner, Swindon Town Head Coach: "They obviously had a really good win in midweek which I'm sure will give them confidence, and they are fighting for every point at the bottom end of the table and looking to stay in the division," Garner said.

"That's always a challenge because you know how much it means to them as a group and their players and their manager, but we've got our own fight.

"We've got our own battle that we want to get back into those Play-Off positions as quickly as we can and we need to get as many points as we can, so I think both teams will be fighting for everything on the pitch."

Liam Feeney, Scunthorpe United Midfielder: "It’s been a long time coming and to win at home on Tuesday night in the situation that we did it in was the best situation we could have asked for.

"It showed real determination and fight and brought the whole club together. The boys are digging deep and the fans were brilliant; it drove us on to it and I’m glad we could reward them with the three points. We need to use that to kick on now."

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

Barrow v Stevenage (3pm)

Bradford City v Exeter City (3pm)

Bristol Rovers v Mansfield Town (3pm)

Colchester United v Carlisle United (3pm)

Crawley Town v Hartlepool United (3pm)

Leyton Orient v Salford City (3pm)

Newport County v Oldham Athletic (3pm)

Port Vale v Northampton Town (3pm)

Rochdale v Harrogate Town (3pm)

Sutton United v Forest Green Rovers (3pm)

Walsall v Tranmere Rovers (3pm)

OFFICIALS

Referee - Will Finnie

Assistant Referee - Matthew Lee

Assistant Referee - Christopher Husband

Fourth Official - Ryan Whitaker

FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE

Can't make it to The County Ground on Saturday? 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 3-0 Scunthorpe United

Reds pick up huge three points

12 February 2022

Swindon Town returned to winning ways in style by beating Scunthorpe United 3-0 at The County Ground in the EFL Sky Bet League Two this afternoon.

After what was a scoreless first-half, despite plenty of chances from the Reds, Harry McKirdy found the back of the net just shy of the hour mark, and Josh Davison's first goal doubled the lead before his second of the afternoon wrapped up a massive win.

Town Head Coach Ben Garner made two changes with Louie Barry coming in to make his full debut, while Louis Reed came back into the Starting XI after serving a two-game suspension.

Akin Odimayo dropped to the bench and Jonny Williams missed out through injury, with the Reds looking to bounce back and pick up a big three points.

It was a fairly even start as Sam Burns ran into space before forcing Jojo Wollacott to get down low and push a shot out for a corner, before Josh Davison fired straight into the arms of Rory Watson after leading a counter-attack at the other end moments later.

Town were looking lively with the ball and were trying to make things happen, and they went close on the 15-minute mark with Joe Tomlinson sending a well-struck drive from way, way out just past the post.

Ben Gladwin then dragged an effort wide as the Reds continued to attack with a real purpose, before Louie Barry's flicked header was dealt with by Watson.

The chances kept on coming for the Reds as a lovely play by Gladwin allowed Ellis Iandolo to curl a shot towards goal, which was claimed by Watson, before some brilliant skill by Barry saw him play in Harry McKirdy who fired inches over from a tight angle.

It was then time for Scunthorpe to carve out a rare chance as Ross Millen bent a free-kick over the wall and inches over the crossbar, before Barry was able to go one-on-one with Watson but the Scunthorpe keeper came out on top and the danger passed.

Town were forced into a change with 35 minutes played as the injured Ben Gladwin was replaced by Ricky Aguiar, while there was yet another opportunity for the hosts minutes later.

McKirdy fired a well-struck shot towards goal which was parried by Watson into the path of Barry, who attempted to head the ball towards goal, but Watson recovered well to keep the scores level.

McKirdy tried his luck from range but his effort was again dealt with by Watson, and Barry was off-target with a header as an eventful first-half came to a close.

HALF-TIME: SWINDON TOWN 0-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Wollacott was busy to start the second-half as he twice denied Burns in quick succession, and he got down low to prevent the Scunthorpe attacker from opening the scoring moments later.

And Wollacott came out on top in his personal battle against Burns yet again as he got across full-stretch to push an effort wide.

It was then Town's turn to go on the attack and they made it count as McKirdy raced through on goal before slotting the ball past Watson to give his team a deserved lead.

Things continued to get better for the Reds with 70 minutes played as Tomlinson's strike took a big deflection, with Josh Davison getting the final touch on it for his first goal for the club.

Wollacott then had to beat away a 25-yard strike from Jai Rowe, but it would be Town who would add to their lead with Davison scoring from the penalty spot after Barry was brought down.

Town then made a couple of quick subs as Jayden Mitchell-Lawson came on for Harry McKirdy, before Louie Barry made way for Ryan East.

And that was that with the Reds seeing out the rest of the game with ease to get back to winning ways, picking up a huge and richly deserved three points as a result.

FULL-TIME: SWINDON TOWN 3-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED

TEAMS AND STATS

SWINDON TOWN - Wollacott; Iandolo, Gladwin (Ricky Aguiar 35), Davison, McKirdy (Jayden Mitchell-Lawson 85), Cooper, O'Brien, Barry (Ryan Easdt 87), Tomlinson, Hunt (C), Reed.

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

SCORERS - Harry McKirdy (57), Josh Davison (70, 84).

BOOKED - Ben Gladwin.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED - Watson; Millen, Delaney, Ornariase, Beestin (Tyrese Sinclair 69), Nuttall (Harry Bunn 80), Rowe, Feeney (C), Burns (Rekeil Pyke 80), Mathieson, Grant.

SUBS NOT USED - Collins, Taft, Thompson, Lewis.

BOOKED - Ross Millen.

REFEREE - Will Finnie.

Attendance - 9,012 (131 Away Fans).