This evening sees the Alex play a home game for, what feels like, an age as Swindon Town make the trip north to the Alexandra Stadium. Both squads will contain players that are familiar to the other side as Olly Lancashire is at Crewe while two Grants, Anthony and Joel, now play for Swindon.
This Season:
The league season started off with a home win against Rochdale before a run of 5 defeats in the next 6 games (a home win against Burton Albion in game 3 the only game where they picked up a positive result). They would beat Hull City in game 8 then another run of 1 win in 5 before winning at local rivals Oxford United on Saturday.
They lost 3-1 in the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup against Charlton Athletic and they would be knocked out at the same round of the FA Cup against Darlington. In the EFL Trophy, they finished 3rd in their group following a win against Forest Green Rovers after back-to-back defeats against West Brom’s Under-21s and Exeter City.
Transfers:
Swindon have made 13 signings this summer, 8 permanent ones and 5 season-long loans. Goalkeepers Joe Fryer and Matej Kovar (loan) have joined from Middlesbrough and Manchester United respectively, defenders Akin Odimayo, Jonathan Grounds and Dion Donohue have all joined permanently. Midfielders Diallang Jaiyesimi, Jack Payne and Matt Smith (loan) while Brett Pitman, Joel Grant, Tyler Smith, Jonny Smith and Jordan Stevens (the last 3 on loan deals) complete the signings.
They have let 13 players go permanently, including former Alex forward Luke Varney, while 3 youngsters have joined non-league sides on loan.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 15
Robins Wins: 19
Draws: 6
Biggest Alex Win: 3-0 at the Alexandra Stadium in February 1983
Biggest Robins Win: 5-0 at the County Ground in August 2013
Last Meeting
Swindon Town 3-1 Crewe Alexandra, 11th January 2020
Rob Hunt gave the hosts the lead in the 32nd minute before Chuma Anene equalised just after the hour-mark. Two goals in 4 minutes from Jerry Yates and Danny Rose gave the Robins the win.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Ng, Wintle, Hunt (Johnson 68), Pickering; Lowery (Finney 73), Green, Ainley (Dale 73); Powell, Anene, Kirk
Robins: Benda; Caddis, Grant, Broadbent, Hunt; Rose, Doughty; Isgrove, Jaiyesimi, Woolery; Yates
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: n/a
Defenders: Marlon Broomes, Olly Lancashire, Patrick Noubissie, Colin Prophett, Alan Sheehan, Ashley Westwood
Midfielders: Alex Downie, Paul Edwards, Mark Gardiner, Anthony Grant, Tony Grant, Danny Hollands, Anthony McNamee, Alan Navarro, Gary Roberts, Kevin Stewart, Teddy Ware, Gareth Whalley
Forwards: Nicky Ajose, Billy Bodin, Fred Chandler, Peter Coyne, Joel Grant, Marc Richards, Jimmy Thompson, Tommy Weale
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with Samuel Barrott the referee, Steven Rushton and Matthew Parry are his assistants with Anthony Backhouse the fourth official. This is the first Crewe game that has been refereed by Barrott as he is a first-year Football League referee.
Opposition View:
I asked Swindon Town supporter Steven Fyfe for his thoughts going into the game and the season so far.
What do you think of your season so far?
Inconsistent! There has been some absolute dross performances, erratic defending and yet some unbelievable results.
*cough* beat Oxford Saturday *cough*
Are there any players that are missing for the Robins?
Defender Mathieu Baudry could be missing after going off on Saturday.
What position do you feel you should have strengthened during the last transfer window?
It’s tough to answer. We signed a keeper who hasn’t had a great start sadly. We signed the experienced Pittman but he hasn’t replaced Doyle…….yet. We regularly get caught out by pacey strikers etc.
What do you think the team will be?
Kovar, Grounds, Braodbent, Caddis, Odimayo, Donohue, M. Smith, Jaiyesimi, Payne, A. Grant, T. Smith
Who are the Swindon danger men?
Matt Smith, Diallang Jaiyesimi and our new hero Tom Broadbent.
What would be a successful season for Swindon this season?
I featured on a podcast preseason and said playoffs. I’m not as confident now so avoid relegation while also finishing above Oxford and Bristol Rovers.
