This weekend’s League Two action sees the current leaders, Stockport County, look to get back to winnings ways as they host a Swindon Town side who sit in a lowly 18th place.
County come into this game on a poor run of recent form, having gone winless in three, following losses to Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers and a goalless draw against playoff hopefuls Gillingham. This run is as bad as it has been all season, as even when they struggled in the lead-up to January, they never went more than three league games without victory.
Their record 12 games won in a row earlier in the season has become a distant memory to fans, as Mansfield Town have closed within two points to potentially put Stockport’s place at the top of the table at risk. Those results have so far gone unpunished, however, as none of the top 12 in the division won their last match out.
The Hatters’ opponents this weekend are a Swindon Town side who have looked lost since the turn of the year. January was a hard month for Town fans as they lost their main firepower in Dan Kemp and Jake Young and have seemingly struggled to replace them. Only picking up six points from a possible twenty-four is a worrying stat, yet as they sit sixteen points above the drop zone, they are not needing to really look down.
A win for the home side would mean that they finish this round of fixtures still on top of the table, whereas a victory for Swindon could see them climb above Tranmere Rovers and into 17th.
Here’s how two of The Real EFL’s pundits see this one going…
Charlie Beeston
“Stockport need a win, there is no denying that. Over the last couple of fixtures, they have gotten lucky that their results haven’t ultimately cost them their lead, however, Mansfield now sit only two points behind them and with a game in hand. Failure to win this fixture and there is the potential that not only their hopes of winning the league are in danger, but their automatic promotion aspirations could also look precarious, with Crewe only four points in fourth.
Swindon won’t necessarily see this as a free hit, no team ever does, but it certainly doesn’t mean as much to them as it does their opposition. It would take an almighty capitulation from here, and a major resurgence from one of the bottom two, to see them relegated this season, and the playoffs do seem just out of reach with how close the race for seventh currently is. Therefore, I predict that Stockport will avoid the potential banana skin, and grab a convincing victory over their opposition.”
Stockport County 3-0 Swindon Town
Ivan Newsome
“Stockport have to bounce back from a trio of poor results if they don’t want to lose their spot at the top of the table. Every team does indeed have a blip in form at some point in the season, and Dave Challinor will be hoping this game could mark the end of his sides’.
Swindon have rather little to play for now at this point, with a substantial gap between both them and the play-offs as well as the relegation zone. Nonetheless they’ll still be looking to climb the table prior to the commencement of the season.
The automatic promotion race could be blown wide open with a Stockport loss, however I think they’ll get back to winning ways in this one. Playing at home obviously helps their chances and I expect a return to form.”
Stockport County 4-2 Swindon Town
