Swindon vs Manchester City Predictions

• Manchester City have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last three FA Cup ties against teams in League Two.
• The visitors are likely to rotate for this cup game against fourth tier opposition.
• Swindon are averaging 1.55 goals per-game in League Two and have only failed to score in two of their last 12 home games.
• City have won two of their last three FA Cup meetings against League Two teams 4-1 (against Port Vale in 2019-20 and Newport in 2018-19)

City begin FA Cup challenge at the County Ground

Premier League pacesetters Manchester City head to Swindon Town in the FA Cup on Friday evening and the chances of a giant killing appear remote.

City are the huge favourites to win this tie at just 1/12 and there is no value in backing them to simply win this tie, but a consolation goal for the League Two hosts does hold some appeal.

Goals at both ends an interesting option

Swindon are involved in the promotion battle in League Two and are averaging a solid 1.55 goals per-game. Town will want to put on a performance in front of their own fans, and in front of the TV cameras on Friday night, so we should expect them to keep attacking even if they do fall a few goals behind.

City have an incredibly strong squad but are likely to rotate for this cup tie against lower league opposition, and that may well provide a few chances for Swindon to make their mark on the game.

The visitors have the best defence in the Premier League but have conceded in seven of their last 11 games in all competitions, and this will be a much-changed Manchester City line-up. City also conceded against League Two opposition last season in a 3-1 fourth round win over Cheltenham, they also conceded against Championship side Swansea in the following round.

In the 2019-20 campaign, both teams scored in City’s third round meeting with fourth tier Newport County and in the season before that they conceded in a win over Newport County – meaning they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three FA Cup games against teams playing in League Two in a run stretching back to the 2018-19 season.

City’s quality to shine through

I may be backing both teams to score, but ultimately I’m expecting the visitors to win comfortably even if they are unable to keep a clean sheet. Guardiola will make changes but any players coming in will want to make an impression and a 4-1 win for the visitors has a chance in the correct score market as the Manchester outfit have won their last two FA Cup games against League Two sides by that scoreline.