Swindon face Northampton hoping to start a run of three games in seven days with a rare Boxing Day win.
Swindon’s last Boxing Day victory came back in 2014 with Michael Smith, Massimo Luongo, and an Andy Williams brace sealing a 4-1 win away at Walsall. Since then, Town have failed to muster a single point on this day losing against Gillingham, Millwall and Luton.
Town have been in good form of late in the league – they’ve won three of their last five, but were denied a third straight home win by Cheltenham last time out.
The Oppo
Keith Curle had only just been appointed when the two sides faced up at the County Ground earlier in the season and, including that 1-1 draw, they went on to win six in eight, losing only once.
However, the Cobblers head into their festive fixture list in poor form – they have won only once in eight games with that victory coming away at Crawley Town. Kevin van Veen scored from the spot that day.
Head-To-Head
21 Oct 2008 Swindon Town v Northampton Town W 2-1 League One
24 Mar 2009 Northampton Town v Swindon Town W 3-4 League One
31 Dec 2011 Northampton Town v Swindon Town W 1-2 League Two
09 Apr 2012 Swindon Town v Northampton Town W 1-0 League Two
27 Sep 2016 Swindon Town v Northampton Town L 1-3 League One
14 Feb 2017 Northampton Town v Swindon Town L 2-1 League One
06 Oct 2018 Swindon Town v Northampton Town D 1-1 League Two
The Gaffer
As a player, Curle made more than 700 appearances across all four divisions, representing Bristol Rovers, Torquay United, Bristol City, Reading, Wimbledon, Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United, Barnsley and Mansfield Town as well as winning three England caps.
Curle started his managerial career with Mansfield Town in 2002, taking the club to the League Two Play-Off final in his first full season in charge.
After spells as assistant manager to Neil Warnock at both Crystal Palace and QPR, he was named the manager of Notts County in February 2012. County finished the 2011/12 season just outside the play offs and during the following season they went 22 away games unbeaten.
He joined Carlisle United in September 2014 when the Cumbrians were bottom of League Two. He steered them to safety, before leading United to a 10th placed finish the following season, a campaign that included runs to the 4th round of the FA Cup and the 3rd round of the League Cup.
In 2016/17, he took United to the League Two play offs, before achieving a third successive top ten finish in 2017/18.
