Swindon Town v Crewe Alex 26-27 Preview - Why Sky?

Why Sky Sports? Why? Why do you consistently switch this fixture to a 12:30pm kick off? It's happened in each of the last 2 seasons and this one makes it 3 in a row. It can't be interesting for neutrals and the games themselves have never been classics. Ok, the last time out the Alex won 2-1, but I still can't understand why Sky would select it. I have great sympathy for any Alex fans once again having to set off at the crack of dawn to make it in time for kick off. Here is my preview of yet another lunchtime kick off between the 2 sides at the County Ground:

Toxic

There has been a feeling that all is not well at Swindon for a while now. There has been an air of bubbling toxicity for several years. The manager berating fans and journalists and acting like a lunatic in interviews, a dodgy owner lurking in the background, failed stadium redevelopment plans. I could go on. Of course, the results have always followed to keep a layer of general positivity going, even up until a few weeks ago after they won 3 of their opening 5 games and were 3-1-1 in that span.

However, the results have now dipped, with them going 0-1-3 in the league and 0 for 2 in the EFL Trophy. They've scored 2 goals in that 6 game span and have picked up a metric tonne of injuries. Things are not going well at the County Ground right now and the Alex could be heading down at just the right moment.

Dead Man Walking

Is Ian Holloway on his last life with the Robins? It feels like it. His antics and behaviour has become increasingly bizarre, especially his pre-match press conference before their defeat at Rochdale. Would a defeat in this game push the Swindon board over the edge? As mentioned above, with the toxic atmosphere around the Robins at the moment, what happens if the Alex get into the lead at any point? Or if they do the unthinkable and go more than 1 goal ahead? Things could go from toxic to downright mutinous given Ollie's already precarious position.

Different Feeling

For the Alex though, they are on a relative high after their win over Bristol Rovers last weekend. The Trophy defeat on Tuesday only added to the positives, with pleasing performances from a few of the senior players and goals from Gibson and a first for McNeill. This is probably the most upbeat the club has felt all season, with a genuine air of optimism floating around I'd say. Can they ride that little wave and keep it going with another good result here?

Record Stretching

The Alex are 9 league games unbeaten, which is one short of their 10 game unbeaten run to start the 1953-54 season. Can they match that record in this game? Whilst they've perhaps been a bit fortunate in a few games to not be beaten, there is also a fair argument to say they've been fairly good value for most of their results so far. So, let's see how long it can keep going for.

Get Going(Away from home)

Whilst the Alex have found scoring at home relatively ok, with 8 goals in 5 games, they have just 3 in their 4 away games. Those 3 goals were a late winner against 9 men, a late equaliser from Josh Stephenson against Colchester and an own goal against Rotherham. It's great that their forwards are starting to really get going at home, but so far, the defenders have as many goal contributions(1 G, 1 A) as their midfielders and attackers(1 G, 1 A) combined. That's a record that they could really do with changing.

Referee Watch

Jamies O'Connor

O'Connor is the ref who sent off Ryan Cooney at Gillingham 2 seasons ago. I didn't disagree with that call or think his performance was that bad. But his display at Shrewsbury last season was, booking Tezgel and March for celebrating with the crowd. He wasn't good that day. Hopefully he's better this time around.

2026-27 Record: 9 games(1 League One, 3 League Two, 1 League Cup, 4 National League), 43 yellows, 1 red

Last Game: Accrington Stanley 2-0 Cheltenham Town, League Two, Saturday 3rd October 2026, 5 yellows, 1 red

Crewe Alex Record: 1-1-0, 6 yellows, 1 red

Injuries/Absences

Swindon

Mitch Clark will be back after serving a 3 game ban, but Kaelan Majekodunmi will miss out after 2 yellows at Rochdale. Sam Inwood is back off international duty, but Paul Glatzel, Ryan Tafazolli, Joe Snowdon, Ben Middlemas, Matty Virtue, Ollie Palmer, Gavin Kilkenny, Harry Smith, Fletcher Holman and Darren Oldaker could all miss out, although there is hope that a few of them might return for this game.

Crewe Alex

Calum Agius returns from international duty and Matus Holicek should also be back after being held out last week as a precaution. Reece Hutchinson is rated as 50-50, but I think they won't risk him and he'll be in contention for Rochdale. Mickey Demetriou remains out for a couple more games, but concerns around Joel Tabiner, who came off last week early in the 2nd half, and Ian Lawlor, who didn't feature at all on Tuesday, need to be raised.

Team

Assuming there are no new injury concerns, especially to Tabiner, I think the keeper, back 4 and midfield 2 pick themselves, with it being the same again. Even if Hutchinson does make this game, I'd have him on the bench.

It's in the attacking areas that I think decisions have to be made. Jordan Gibson is doing everything he can to force his way back into the starting XI after goals in back to back games, including a stunner on Tuesday. Leaving him out would be very tough. But can you drop March, Lankester, Tabiner or Thibaut? I'm not sure you can. So Gibson might have to be content with sitting on the bench for a bit longer.

The bench should be stronger than it was a week ago, with Holicek and Agius to return to it, likely in the place of Moore and Ewusi.

Score Prediction

It would so typical of this Crewe team to follow up an uplifting and hugely positive win with an absolute dud against a struggling and injury hit Swindon side wouldn't it? Like a classic 1-0/2-1 loss out of nowhere to end their unbeaten start to the season. I really hope that this version of the Alex are built different. I'm also going to hope my predicting of draws will continue to lead to different outcomes, hopefully more wins.

Swindon Town 1-1 Crewe Alexandra