Swindon Town will host Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night in Southern Group G of the EFL Trophy. Both teams will be eager to secure crucial points, as Swindon look to recover from their opening defeat, while Bristol Rovers aim to build on their entertaining draw against Tottenham Under-21s.
Match Preview
Swindon Town
Swindon began their EFL Trophy campaign with a narrow 2-1 loss to Exeter City, conceding a late goal to remain winless in the competition since November 2021. The Robins have struggled in League Two as well, sitting 21st in the table with just eight points from their opening matches. They are coming off a goalless draw against Harrogate Town and will be looking to secure a much-needed win in the cup to boost morale.
Swindon’s form in the EFL Trophy has been poor, and they will be hoping to avoid a ninth straight defeat in the competition. Mark Kennedy’s men need a strong showing on Tuesday night, especially after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Bristol Rovers the last time these sides met in the EFL Trophy in 2022.
Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers, on the other hand, opened their EFL Trophy campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Tottenham Under-21s, though they lost the penalty shootout. In League One, they have shown signs of improvement, with back-to-back wins over Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion pushing them up to 18th in the table. They come into this fixture with momentum and will be confident of securing a positive result.
Manager Matt Taylor is expected to rotate his squad, but Rovers still have enough firepower to overcome their League Two opponents. Despite recent defeats to Swindon in previous meetings, Rovers will be favorites to come out on top in this match.
Team News
Swindon Town
Mark Kennedy is likely to stick with a similar lineup to the one that faced Exeter. Aaron Drinan and Kabongo Tshimanga are expected to lead the attack in a 3-5-2 formation. Key players from the goalless draw against Harrogate, including Luke Jephcott and Joe Tomlinson, should also retain their spots, offering experience and stability for the Robins.
Predicted Swindon Starting XI:
Barden; Sobowale, Minturn, Wright, Freckleton, Cain; Cotterill, Kilkenny, Butterworth; Tshimanga, Drinan
Bristol Rovers
Matt Taylor is likely to make several changes, with Chris Martin set to lead the line. The likes of Micah Anthony and Kofi Shaw could be handed starts, while players such as James Gibbons and Luke McCormick might also feature in a rotated side. This game will allow Rovers’ fringe players to impress and stake a claim for a first-team spot.
Predicted Bristol Rovers Starting XI:
Hall; Senior, Taylor, Forbes, Sousa; Hutchinson, Garrett; Shaw, McCormick, Anthony; Martin
Prediction
Swindon will be eager to end their losing run in the EFL Trophy, but Bristol Rovers’ form and depth in squad should give them the edge. With several changes expected for both sides, it might be a closely fought contest, but Bristol Rovers should have enough quality to take all three points.
Prediction: Swindon Town 1-2 Bristol Rovers
