Match Preview: Swindon Town

18 January 2019

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers will be aiming to make it two Sky Bet League Two wins on the bounce when they host Swindon Town at Prenton Park on Saturday.

Micky Mellon’s side are ninth in the fourth-tier, two points and two places off the Play-Off positions following a brilliant 3-1 win away at Cheltenham Town last weekend.

Rovers stormed back from a goal down at the break through Luke Varney to score three second half goals from top-scorer James Norwood, new signing Ishmael Miller and Ollie Banks.

Swindon head to the Wirral in 12th position, with Michael Doughty’s double securing a 2-2 draw at home to league leaders Lincoln City.

Team news

Connor Jennings is back in full training after missing last weekend's game at Cheltenham Town. Mark Ellis has a stiff neck and will be assessed before this weekend's game.

The Robins’ season so far

With just one defeat in their last six Sky Bet League Two outings, Swindon head to Prenton Park seven points adrift of the Play-Off places, with the season now past its halfway point.

From their 28 fixtures so far, the Robins have won nine, drawn 10 and lost nine having steadily climbed the table under new boss Richie Wellens.

Wellens replaced Phil Brown in November with the Wiltshire side 17th in the division, and he has led them to an upturn in fortunes as the County Ground outfit look to mount a play-off push.

A win at Tranmere on Saturday could, if results go their way, move Swindon four points off the top seven.

One to Watch

Goal-scoring midfielder Michael Doughty has been in impressive form for Swindon this season, leading the club’s tally.

Born in the Westminster, London, Doughty turned professional at Queens Park Rangers having come through the youth system at the Loftus Road side.

Doughty would later embark on several loans to aid his football development away from West London, and would turn out for Woking, Crawley Town, Aldershot Town, St Johnstone, Stevenage and Gillingham, before two separate temporary stints at current club Swindon.

After making 10 league appearances at QPR, Doughty left the Hoops permanently in 2017, signing for Peterborough United.

In one season at London Road, he featured 34 times in Sky Bet League One for Posh before returning to Swindon in July 2018, signing a two-year deal at the County Ground.

And since his move back to Wiltshire, the 26-year-old, who was capped at youth level by Wales, has eight goals to his name for the Robins this season.

Tickets

Fancy heading down to Prenton Park this Saturday to watch some affordable football and cheer on Micky’s lads as TRFC welcome Swindon Town to the Wirral?

Match tickets for our home game against Wellens’ Robins side are still available to purchase either in person at the Prenton Park ticket office or online by clicking here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/.

TRFC’s online ticket store is also the perfect place to purchase tickets for upcoming Sky Bet League Two games, both home and away, and away coach travel.

Match Coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ home game against Swindon Town on Saturday? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at Prenton Park.

You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Mellon and a player, after the game.

To sign up, click here

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere 1-2 Swindon

19 January 2019

A second half strike from top goal scorer James Norwood wasn’t enough for Tranmere as they fell to a 2-1 loss at home to Swindon. First half goals from Marc Richards and Michael Doughty secured the win for Town.

Manager Micky Mellon named the same team which won away at Cheltenham Town last weekend, as January recruits David Perkins and Ishmael Miller made their home debuts.

Midfielder Connor Jennings returned to the bench after missing the game against Cheltenham through injury, replacing Zoumana Bakayogo.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the game in the seventh minute, as their captain, Richards, found space in between Steve McNulty and Mark Ellis to go through on goal, but Scott Davies got down well to save before Ellis thumped the ball away.

In the 20th minute, Swindon broke the deadlock as Richards tucked home his second chance of the game, side footing past Davies from six yards after a cross from the left.

Miller came close to scoring his second in as many games, as the striker powered his way through on goal but he came into contact with the Swindon defender when connecting with his strike, as it steered off target.

Miller was injured in the process which resulted in the former WBA man having to come off for Jennings.

Swindon went two to the good in the 35^th minute, as TRFC gave possession away cheaply in the final and the visitors punished through Doughty’s close range finish.

Mellon reacted to the visitors’ second as Adam Buxton came on for Ellis in a change of formation for the hosts.

Jennings had a good opportunity just before the interval for TRFC but his header was off target as Rovers had work to do going into the second period.

It was a case of déjà vu for Tranmere as like last weekend, they raced out of the traps in the second half, as Norwood scored an excellent goal, placing the ball into the bottom corner after a cross from Ollie Banks.

Tranmere were flying after Norwood’s goal and pushed for an equaliser and just before the hour mark, Jennings missed two headers as the host’s confidence continued to grow.

Caprice, in search of his first goal for the Club, nearly found the back of the net, catching goalkeeper Lawrence Vigoroux off guard, but his chipped attempt from 30-yards went wide.

With ten to go, Mellon made his third change as Jonny Smith came on for Luke McCullough.

Tranmere shot stopper Davies made the save of the game in the 83rd minute, jumping to his left to deny Jak McCourt a certain winner.

However, Tranmere couldn’t find the crucial equaliser and Swindon went home with the points. Attention now turns to Mansfield Town away next weekend.

Davies, Caprice, Ellis (Buxton 36), McNulty, Monthe, Ridehalgh, Perkins, McCullough (Smith 80), Banks, Norwood, Miller (Jennings 31). Unused subs: Pilling, Gilmour, Mullin, Harris.

Attendance: 5,847.

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Match Preview: Swindon Town

Tranmere 1-2 Swindon

Standings

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