Preston North End Vs Swindon Town Match Preview
npower League One Sunday 2nd September 2012
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Deepdale
Referee: Robert Madley (click here for referee stats)
Betting Odds: Preston 15/8 Draw 23/10 Swindon 7/5
Form:
Preston North End: WDLDW
Swindon Town: WWWDW
The people of Preston will be hoping for a double celebration on Sunday as, as well as the Guild festivities taking place this weekend, North End are in action and look to notch up their first league win of the campaign.
The latest team to visit Deepdale is Paolo Di Canio's Swindon Town, another League One side who have impressed in the League Cup thus far having displaced two teams higher up the footballing ladder than themselves.
The Wiltshire-outfit arrive in the North West on the back of an impressive win at Premier League side Stoke City in the Capital One Cup and an unbeaten league record to boot.
Thus, Sunday's fixture will be a tricky one for Graham Westley's side but, although perhaps too early to talk about league positions, a win for North End could see them move up to mid-table with the onus firmly on looking up not down.
Previous Meetings (click here for head-to-head stats)
The last time the Lilywhites took on The Robins was over a quarter of a century ago.
It was during the 1985/1986 season when Swindon took on North End last.
Billy Ocean's "When The Going Gets Tough" was number one in the charts and the two sides were competing in the old fourth division.
The going certainly did get tough for North End that afternoon as The Robins flew away with a 3-0 win and, subsequently, all three points.
That result ensured that Swindon completed the double of North End having previously recorded a 4-1 win at the County Ground earlier that season on 7th December 1985.
North End's last win over Swindon was Tuesday 7th March 1978, a time when flares were all the rage and Led Zeppelin were recording their 8th and penultimate album "In Through The Out Door".
North End ran out 2-0 winners at the County Ground but drew 1-1 at Deepdale meaning that you'd have to cast your mind back to the 1976/1977 season for the last time North End beat Swindon on their own turf.
Team News
After netting his 2nd goal in as many games, powerful striker Akpo Sodje will be looking to start his first league game for Preston.
New acquisition Stuart Beavon who signed on the dotted line with just minutes to spare on the transfer deadline day is set for his debut but midfielder's John Mousinho and Joel Byrom are both major doubts.
Swindon, meanwhile, were particularly busy on transfer deadline day meaning that five players could make their bow.
Darren Ward, John Bostock, Adam Rooney, Federico Bessone and Giles Coke are in line to make their debuts after completing moves on Friday.