The Preview 25/26: Colchester United (H)

·36 min·3 clips

Ian Holloway's first year at Swindon Town involved an exorcism at the club's graveyard, sparking a turnaround in form.

The episode begins by congratulating Ian Holloway on completing one year as Swindon Town manager, referencing a quirky story about an exorcism at the club's graveyard during his early days. The hosts, Joe and another speaker, reflect on Holloway's first year, noting he is the first manager in the Clem Morfuni era to last a full year. They highlight Colchester United as a fitting opponent for this anniversary, recalling a 4-0 loss and a dramatic 3-2 win that were pivotal in Holloway's early tenure. The discussion shifts to team updates, including Danny Butterworth's hamstring injury that will sideline him for 4-5 months, while other players like James Ball and Adam Murphy are set to return. A voice note from Colchester fan Si Collison provides opponent insights, detailing their takeover issues, current form with four consecutive wins, and key players like Mikko Embik and Jack Tucker. The hosts analyze Swindon's recent performances, noting attacking struggles and Ian Holloway's emphasis on self-scouting to adapt tactics. They also touch on academy news with Tim Bell's appointment and women's team fixtures. Predictions for the match are made, with Joe forecasting a 2-1 Swindon win, while the other host hopes for a repeat of the 3-2 thriller. The episode concludes with reminders about ticket promotions for young fans and upcoming fixtures.

As heard by us

A Swindon preview that uses fitness updates to map the squad pecking order.

Swindon Town gets a grounded, useful check-in here, with Ian Holloway's first full year in charge treated less as a milestone than as a test of whether the energy around him is starting to show in the team.

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Why you'd press play

Want a Swindon listen that mixes squad-rotation arithmetic, returning bodies, Ian Holloway's first year, and a ghost story at no extra charge?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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