Rovers are on the road once again as they face another short journey, this time to take on Swindon Town at the County Ground.

Rob Edwards and his men come into Tuesday night’s clash off the back of securing promotion to League One for the first time.

Here’s all you need to know on our penultimate away opponents of a memorable 2021/22 campaign.

MEET THE MANAGER: BEN GARNER

Swindon Town gaffer Ben Garner never played football in the professional game and went straight into football coaching at the young age of 25.

His first role came with Crystal Palace where he was an academy coach for seven years coaching the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

After stints as a first team coach at Palace and West Brom alongside a linkup with Steve Coppell at ATK in India, Garner went to Bristol Rovers for a first full managerial role.

He took the job in late 2019 but was relieved from his duties after less than a year in charge.

In July, after nearly half a year out of management Garner took over at the County Ground where he has kept the side in the top half all season.

KEY PLAYER: HARRY MCKIRDY

Attacker Harry McKirdy moved down South to join Swindon at the start of the season signing a one year deal, which has since been extended.

McKirdy played his youth football with Stoke City and Aston Villa, where he spent a combined time of 15 years.

After loan spells with Stevenage, Crewe Alexandra and Newport County, he left Villa to sign for Carlisle United.

A fairly successful year with the Cumbrians was followed by an unsuccessful one with Port Vale, where he played just 12 times.

Since joining the Robins back in July, McKirdy has gone on to score 19 times in the league as well as grabbing seven assists, causing him to be involved in the League Two Team of the Season.

FORM – WLWLD

02/04/22 – Rochdale 0-0 Swindon Town

09/04/22 – Swindon Town 0-1 Newport County

15/04/22 – Harrogate Town 1-4 Swindon Town

18/04/22 – Swindon Town 1-2 Leyton Orient

23/04/22 – Hartlepool United 0-3 Swindon Town

PLAYED FOR BOTH SIDES

Lewis Ward:

25 year old shot stopper Lewis Ward spent his time in Nailsworth at the end of the 2018/19 season on loan from Reading.

He made 14 appearances in that time, two of the which in our first League Two play-off campaign, where we lost out to Tranmere Rovers.

Ward signed for Swindon at the start of the season but has only managed a limited number of games, one of which however an FA Cup clash against Manchester City.

Jojo Wollacott:

Another goalkeeper who has played for both sides is Ghanaian international Jojo Wollacott who also came on loan to Rovers the season after Ward.

He made just 15 appearances for the club due to the quality of the goalkeepers at the time including current FGR keeper Lewis Thomas.

Wollacott signed for the Robins at the start of the season and has impressed in Wiltshire, recently being named in the League Two Team of the Season.

LAST TIME OUT

Swindon bounced back from their defeat to Leyton Orient by comfortably beating Hartlepool United 3-0 at Victoria Park.

The hosts’ best chance came from Omar Bogle in the opening 45, as his low effort was just tipped around the post by Lewis Ward.

But five minutes before the break Harry McKirdy had Ben Garner’s side in front, finishing well to net his 18th of the league season.

That became 19 ten minutes after half time as McKirdy tuned Jack Payne’s low cross past Pools keeper Ben Killip to make it 2-0.

Veteran centre back Mathieu Baudry made sure of the three points five minutes from time heading home on the line to win a second away game in a row.

LAST TIME WE MET

Rovers fell to just a second loss of the season back in October as they were defeated 2-0 by Swindon at The Fully Charged New Lawn.

The best chance of a cagey first half came from a trademark reverse Nicky Cadden free kick, which former FGR keeper Lewis Ward kept out at full stretch.

Jack Aitchison had a glorious chance to put Rovers ahead not long after the break, but his shot drifted wide after he raced in one on one with the keeper.

The Robins would punish that miss moments later and take the lead as Ben Gladwin’s cross was steered in by Harry McKirdy.

An impressive performance from Ward kept Swindon ahead and Tyreece Simpson then made it two ten minutes from time, tapping home from close range.

Rovers had a chance for a consolation from the spot in injury time, but Ward was to the rescue again, this time stopping Josh March to secure the three points.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Rovers and the Robins have met in League Two action on seven occasions since our promotion back in 2017.

And it’s Tuesday’s hosts who hold the advantage in the head-to-head, winning four of those games alongside two draws.

FGR’s only league win against Swindon came back in March 2020. Goals from Matty Stevens and Ebou Adams sent the Rovers faithful home happy in what was the last away game with fans for 525 days.