Swindon Town rounded off their pre-season schedule with a commanding 4-1 victory over Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn, providing a confident send-off before the 2026/27 campaign begins. Manager Ian Holloway’s side took control early and converted that momentum into a decisive lead.
Fast start sets tone
Swindon struck quickly, putting two goals on the board inside the opening ten minutes. Former Liverpool prospect Paul Glatzel produced the decisive finish to open his account for the afternoon, and his second early in the game doubled the visitors’ advantage.
- Paul Glatzel – two goals
- Aaron Drinan – lively in the opening phase and created early chances
- Ricardo Rees – scored on his return from injury
- Ben Middlemas – added a deflected goal to make it four
Second-half changes and a polished finish
Forest Green made a number of alterations at half-time, but Swindon’s substitutes and bench options continued to influence the contest. Glatzel’s second came early in the second period, again supplied by team movement that unsettled the hosts. Later on, Middlemas struck with a deflected effort inside the area to extend the lead.
The Rovers did have periods of possession and created a few attempts on goal, most notably Kyle McAllister testing the shot-stopping of Swindon’s keeper, but they were unable to close the gap. A late strike from Ricardo Rees—his first goal in pre-season after returning from injury—confirmed the Robins’ comfortable win.
| Final score | Forest Green 1-4 Swindon Town |
|---|---|
| Scorers (Swindon) | Paul Glatzel (2), Ben Middlemas, Ricardo Rees |
| Notable | Two goals inside ten minutes; Rees' goal came on his second appearance since injury |
What this means for Swindon
The result will be welcomed by supporters and coaching staff alike as a positive indicator ahead of the first league fixture of the season. Early goals and an ability to convert chances will be encouraging signs for Holloway as he finalises his squad and tactics.
While pre-season results are not definitive predictors of league performance, the manner of Swindon’s victory—strong opening quarter and effective use of substitutes—offers squad depth and match-sharpness to build on heading into competitive fixtures.
