Swindon Town will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing draw against local rivals Bristol Rovers last weekend, with a positive performance against a Colchester side who are hovering just above the relegation zone.
Last week performance against Bristol Rovers was a tad disappointing a bit naïve from Ben Garner as he failed to make any substitutions in the whole game. The game in the second half was crying out for a bit of midfield solidity in Jordan Lyden, but sadly it did not happen.
For twenty-twenty five minutes last weekend, Swindon Town dominated and really should have added more to the 1-0 lead thanks to Tyreece Simpson goal which for the time being proved to be his last goal for the club after being re-called the following day. The rest of the game, Joey Barton Bristol Rovers side dominated the game and thoroughly deserved the point. Got no qualms in saying that, Barton and Bristol Rovers had a game plan and it worked. Targeting the attacking Swindon players in the midfield and nullifying them. Overall, a draw was the fair result, it was a bit chaotic at the final stages of the game as tackles were flying left right and centre. The referee who had a poor game did not know what to do.
Ben Garner revealed today that both Jack Payne and Mathieu Baudry will be missing for tomorrow game away at Colchester. Still could get Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Tyreece Simpson back at the club as they were both recalled to their parent club this month. Aston Villa signed Callum Chambers on a free last evening which will provide competition for Polish international Matty Cash. Simpson was recalled due to contract negotiations as the Ipswich Town striker is in the final six months of his deal. Once that is sorted out, hopefully fingers crossed we will see a return of Tyreece Simpson return to the county ground where his development was coming on nicely.
Swindon Town did dip into the loan market this week with the signing of on loan Charlton Athletic striker Josh Davison to fill the void after Tyreece Simpson recall. Also, on Friday lunch time it was confirmed that Anthony Grant has left the club by mutual consent. It is rumoured that Grant is on his way to Scunthorpe United.
Predicted STFC Line up
3-5-1-1
Wollacott, O’Brien, Conroy, Odimayo, Hunt, Reed, Lyden, Gladwin, Iandolo, McKirdy, Davison
Colchester United find themselves just hovering above the dreaded relegation places in 22nd place. The caveat for the Colchester United fans is that they are six points clear of second bottom Scunthorpe United and have two games in hand. Colchester United have played twenty-five games this season in League two and have twenty-five points.
Colchester United run of form in the last six games has been worrying as they fight for safety. Just one win out of the last six games, which was a 0-3 away win at Salford last weekend. There has been four defeats and one draw in the remaining five games. The sole draw was a 0-0 draw away at Bradford City. The four defeats were all in a row space over the Christmas and new year as Colchester did have games called off for Covid. Walsall won 3-0 away at Colchester on the 8th December. New year day, Crawley defeated Colchester 3-1, Barrow won 2-0 and the final defeat and the straw that broke the camel back was the 3-2 defeat to Sutton on the 18th January.
The next day Colchester United parted company with Hayden Mullins and Alex Dyer in the roles at the club. Wayne Brown was name as interim head coach, and he has brought in Dave Huzzey and Joe Dunne to help him out. Their first game in charge was the 3-0 away win at Salford and they will be looking to make it back-to-back wins and to inch clearer to safety.
Colchester United have made seven signings this month to help with the threat of relegation. The one that caught the eye is the signing of experienced striker of the football league in John Akinde, Akinde has dropped down a division after leaving Gillingham by mutual consent.
By Scot Munroe