York are back on home turf this Saturday as high-flying Swindon are the visitors. City will be hoping to extend their 100% winning record at home in League Two this season, while Swindon will be looking to build on the fine start that sees them currently 2nd in the league. What should we expect from Ian Holloway’s side?
We’ve met before…
League meetings between York and Swindon have been rare in recent years, with 1995/96 being the only one of the past forty seasons when the two sides shared a division. That season, the Robins ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at the County Ground, but City avenged that defeat with a 2-0 win at Bootham Crescent thanks to a Glenn Naylor strike and a rare Andy McMillan goal (one of only 5 he scored in over 400 appearances for the club). Swindon went on to win the league that season and have competed at a higher level than York in the intervening 30 years.
The only meeting between the sides since then came in the FA Cup 1st Round in 2018 when Sam Collins’ York side fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat. A David Ferguson goal for the Minstermen cancelled out Scott Twine’s opener, but Steven Alzate fired the winner to send the Robins through. In terms of the overall head-to-head record, Swindon are on top, having won 9 of the 15 encounters between the clubs.
What to expect from Swindon
Swindon have started the season well, with three wins from their first five league games putting them 2nd in the table. This flying start has gone some way to tempering fan discontent: the relationship between the fanbase and owner Clem Morfuni has been uneasy of late, and manager Ian Holloway’s popularity took a hit when Swindon’s dreadful late-season form saw them drop out of the playoff picture in 2025/26. It’s worth noting that their three wins this season have all come at home, with the two most recent victories following similar patterns, as they came from behind to win 3-1 against Port Vale last weekend, then again conceded first before beating Colchester by the same scoreline in midweek. Away from home, they have just a point from their first two games, and were humbled 3-0 at Oldham in their last away game.
The Robins’ strong start looks even more impressive when their lengthy injury list is taken into account. The list of players missing through injury runs well into double figures, with some long-term absentees such as Gavin Kilkenny and Fletcher Holman left out of their 22-man squad. Holloway has covered these absences by dipping into the loan market, with six loanees currently in the squad, and by calling upon several talented youngster coming through the ranks at the County Ground. This season, Holloway has been setting up his team in a 4-3-3 formation, with an emphasis on winning the ball back quickly, both in defence (Swindon rank highest in the league for successful tackles and interceptions) and through front-foot pressing further up the pitch. The goals of Aaron Drinan are key to their success: after winning the League Two golden boot last season, the Irishman already leads the scoring charts this season with five goals.
In goal, Connor Ripley is firmly established as first choice. Having spent much of his career playing in League One, he moved to Swindon in February 2025 and has been a reliable presence between the sticks since then, starting every league game last season. Backup comes from Lewis Ward, currently in his third spell with the club.
The right-back position should be taken by Mitch Clark, who has been an ever-present this season after joining from Port Vale in the summer. His main competition would come from academy product Joel McGregor, but he suffered an ankle injury in pre-season and remains out. At left-back, the experienced Dan Butler was a deadline-day loan signing from Stevenage and will expect to keep his place after a solid debut against Colchester. 22-year-old Billy Kirkman had featured at left-back previously this season, but was moved to centre-back for the Colchester game and came off at half-time, having had recent injury issues himself.
In the centre of defence, Moldovan international Stephan Negru is a likely starter, having made a strong start to his Swindon career since joining from rivals Oxford United this summer. Who lines up alongside him is more open to question, with experienced Ryan Tafazolli expected to miss out due to a swollen toe. Sam Inwood suffered a hamstring injury last month after joining on loan from Bolton but has trained all week so could slot back in, while James Ball is also available having recovered from his own recent injury issues. A further centre-back option is offered by Kaelan Majekodunmi, a young Australian who joined the Robins this summer from Olympic Kingsway.
As with other areas of the pitch, the midfield selection is hampered by injury problems: captain Ollie Clarke picked up a back injury this week and will miss the trip to York, while Tom Nichols’ calf problem looks set to rule him out. There are also doubts over Matty Virtue who missed the last two games with a thigh problem. 19-year-old Anthony Munda should play having started every game since joining on loan from Newcastle, and he is likely to be joined in midfield by another recent recruit in Jack Thomson, playing his first season in the EFL after signing from Kilmarnock. With Clarke injured, the third spot in midfield may be taken by young Ben Middlemas, who impressed after coming on at half-time against Colchester. James Debayo, currently on loan from Hull, offers another option but may have to settle for a place on the bench.
On the wings, Holloway has several options available. Paul Glatzel has been dealing with a hamstring niggle but is reportedly nearing match fitness: if available to start, Glatzel is likely to be selected for one of the wide attacking roles, as he offers a good deal of creativity and attacking threat. Antwoine Hackford is another option out wide having recently signed from AFC Wimbledon, but after an unconvincing debut last weekend he may drop to the bench. Joe Hungbo, on the other hand, put in an excellent display off the bench to help turn the Colchester game, so the Wigan loanee could be in contention to start this time out. Joe Snowdon is another strong contender to claim one of the wide attacking positions, while Danny Butterworth has recently recovered from a serious injury so could also be called upon. Other wide options likely to miss out are 17-year-old Louis Millard, who came off with a suspected dislocated shoulder last weekend, and QPR loanee Jaylan Pearman who has been injured since pre-season.
Up front, Aaron Drinan is the main man for Swindon, with his hat-trick in the win over Colchester taking him clear at the top of the League Two scoring charts. Robins fans will have been delighted that Drinan committed his long-term future to the club earlier this month by signing a new four-year deal. Ollie Palmer would be another centre-forward option, but he is currently suffering with a swollen ankle and will not travel with the squad this weekend. Another highly-rated forward at the club is Harry Smith, but while he is nearing a return after missing all of last season with an ACL injury, the York game is likely to come too soon for him.
York team news
York head coach Scott Lindsey has reported some positive news on the injury front, with Zak Johnson, Jack Hunt and Dipo Akinyemi all returning to full training this week and available for selection. Lindsey also referred to having lost another first-team player to injury, but would not be drawn on the player’s identity. Longer-term absentees Josh Stones, Hiram Boateng and Frankie Maguire are still seemingly a way off returning to full fitness. City’s options are now a little more restricted by the squad list that was submitted last week: Ben Brookes and Ash Palmer were not included in the squad and are therefore unavailable for selection, although one space has been left for an addition at some stage.
Johnson’s return from the injury that kept him out of the last three games means that he may be selected in the middle of the back three, which would in all likelihood cause Morgan Williams to move to right centre-back and Ryan Fallowfield to drop to the bench. Jack Hunt’s return offers another option at right wing-back, making the starter there difficult to call after Joe Felix and Jeff King played a half each at Crewe last week. Further forward, Akinyemi may be eased back into action as a substitute, having only lasted forty minutes in his last starting appearance on opening day. With the exception of the mystery player who has suffered an injury this week, further changes to the City line-up seem unlikely.
