Swindon Town will try to put some distance between themselves and the League Two relegation zone as they begin 2025 by hosting Colchester United at The Nigel Eady County Ground on Wednesday.
Both sides earned come-from-behind 1-1 draws over the weekend, with the Robins claiming a point at Bromley and Colchester doing the same versus Doncaster Rovers.
Match preview
© Imago
A solid December has enabled Swindon Town to climb back above the relegation line, claiming a total of eight points last month.
They begin a new year just three points above the relegation line, though they have played more games than two of the three sides below them in the standings.
Ian Holloway's men have only lost one of their previous six encounters across all competitions, suffering a 1-0 defeat against Bradford City in mid-December.
Swindon are riding a two-match domestic winning run at home into this upcoming contest, outscoring their previous two opponents in Wiltshire by a combined margin of 6-2.
In each of their previous two campaigns, this side have lost their first domestic encounter to begin a calendar year, though they have not suffered three defeats in a row since 2002.
The Robins are unbeaten in their last three home fixtures versus Colchester across all competitions, eliminating them from the FA Cup in early November (2-1 in extra time).
© Imago
Over in Essex, Colchester United ended the year with some good momentum, coming back to earn a point last weekend for the seventh time domestically this season when conceding the opening goal.
Those seven points gained are the difference between 15th and 22nd place, with the U's safely above the relegation line, nine points ahead of Carlisle United.
Since that heartbreaking defeat to Swindon in the FA Cup, they have bounced back nicely, currently unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
Danny Cowley's men have not lost any of their last six domestic encounters away from home and have not conceded in three successive league contests as the visitors.
The U's have won just one of their previous seven football league fixtures to open a calendar year, failing to score more than once in any of those encounters.
They are unbeaten in their last four league fixtures versus Swindon Town but have not won an away match against them in this competition since September 2019 (3-0).
Team News
© Imago
There were six changes made to the Swindon starting 11 over the weekend, with Nnamdi Ofoborh, Danny Butterworth, Aaron Drinan, Paul Glatzel, Billy Kirkman and Rosaire Longelo being the newcomers to the opening lineup.
Longelo levelled their match on Sunday, three minutes after Omar Sowunmi had given Bromley the lead, his first of the League Two campaign.
On Sunday, Colchester were once again missing Anthony Scully because of an ankle injury, while there was one change from their opening lineup on Boxing Day as Teddy Bishop came in for Arthur Read.
Their only goal against Doncaster came six minutes into the second half, courtesy of Lyle Taylor, his second in successive matches for the U's.
Swindon Town possible starting lineup:
Barden; Sobowale, Wright, Delaney, Kirkman, Longelo; Cotterill, Ofoborh, Clarke; Smith, Drinan
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Macey; Egbo, Flanagan, Donnelly, Iandolo; McDonnell, Bishop; Anderson, Payne, Edwards; Taylor
We say: Swindon Town 2-2 Colchester United
At least three or more goals have been scored the last four times these teams have met in a competitive fixture, and we expect another strong attacking display for each on Wednesday, but no one finding that decisive advantage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
