Entertainment Swindon

Match Report by: Match Days With Alfie.

The 2026/27 Pre-Season friendly’s are coming to a close, with just a couple games left. On Saturday (25th July) Swindon faced off against Championship League team Bristol City. On paper, a tough warm up match to put Swindon through their paces ahead of the season kicking off, and on the pitch the first half Swindon took the game to Bristol, ooking very much the strongest team. But by the end of the match, the result went against Swindon with very much a game of two halves.

Swindon got an early chance, just 5mins into the game Aaron Drinan had his first chance on goal which was cleared by Bristols keeper, leading to a corner. Swindon kept up the pressure which led to two corners, before Bristols got a chance which left Swindon’s keeper Lewis Ward needing to make a big save in the 10th minute.

Swindon again, were able to hold possession and put on the pressure against Bristol. In 16th minute, Swindon were given a corner which found Fletcher on the right, running into the box, but was left with an impossible shot which was deflected for another corner.

Swindon’s only goal of the match came in the 18th minute. A great play by the town side, starting in the Bristol half with a great pass to Kirkman on the left who sent a low pass to Drinan who made a lovely touch, putting the ball into the bottom right corner for a great goal, putting Swindon ahead.

Although Swindon kept very much dominance of the first half, Bristol had their moments. As Bristol tried to get on top of the game, Swindon gained the first of several injuries the town side would pick up by the end of the game. In 26th minute, Fletcher Holman cramped up, after running onto a long ball by Ward. Ward was able rto walk off the pitch, being replaced by Louie Millard.

The rest of the first half saw no real chances from either side with both teams going in at half time with Swindon 1-0 Bristol City.

The second half kicked off with several chances from both sides, but it was Bristol who came out stronger, and started to gain the dominance of the second half which they would not loose.

In the 49th minute, a long ball was chipped over by Swindon’s Paul Gatzel, with the ball going in the back of the net, but was disallowed, as it was flagged up for off side.

Bristols continued confidence though, kept getting stronger, and led to a 57th minute goal against Swindon, when just seconds after coming on, new Bristol City signing Tolja launched the ball past Ward into the bottom left corner.

The second half saw both sides making several changes, before Bristol struck its second goal of the match from Tolaj with a header beating Ward in the 73rd minute. Just 5minutes later, Swindon conceded another goal, this time by Jed Wallace, leaving the final score Swindon 1-3 Bristol City.

Swindon Town line-up: Ward, Clark (Griffiths-Brown ‘45), Mabete (Negru ‘60), Nichols (Kilkenny ‘60), Glatzel (Head ‘60), Holman (Millard ‘26), Debayo (Trialist A ‘60), Middlemas (Virtue ‘60), Drinan © (Palmer ‘60), Trialist B (Tafazoli ‘74), Kirkman (Sowe ‘60)

Swindon’s next pre-season friendly will be against Leyton Orient, again at home at the Nigel Eady County Ground on Tuesday 28th July.

Match Report by: Match Days With Alfie.