Swindon vs Northampton Predictions

• Despite sitting in the League Two playoff places, Swindon have managed just two wins in 10 home league games this term.
• Northampton had won four games on the spin before a string of postponements.
• The Cobblers’ away record in League Two is bettered only by those of Swindon and league leaders Forest Green Rovers.

Swindon’s home woes hamper their promotion hopes

Despite maintaining a playoff charge in League Two, Swindon boast one of the division’s worst home records, winning just twice in 10 games at the County Ground. In fact, only Carlisle, Scunthorpe, and Oldham, the bottom three teams in the Football League, have home records as bad as Swindon’s, and Ben Garner’s team failed to improve upon it in a frustrating goalless draw with Stevenage in midweek.

Swindon’s home struggles may see them come unstuck on New Year’s Day, when they host second-placed Northampton, who have won their last four games in succession, although coronavirus outbreaks have seen them go three weeks without a fixture.

Jon Brady’s team have a better away record than all bar two clubs in the fourth tier, and boast the second-best defensive stats in the league, conceding just 17 goals all season.

Smart money is on the visitors

Northampton were held to a 1-1 draw in their reverse fixture with Swindon back in September, but given the way in which Garner’s team have toiled at the County Ground all season, the Cobblers are worth a punt for a vital win.

Northampton’s current four-match winning run has seen them win 2-1 on three occasions. Backing them for another triumph by the same scoreline could be a decent correct score prediction for this New Year’s Day clash.