Swindon vs Bristol City preview - Thompson boost for Robins

Posted Friday, November 14, 2014 by PA

Swindon have been boosted by the availability of captain Nathan Thompson for their local derby with Bristol City.

The 23-year-old skipper saw red after just 21 minutes of their 5-0 FA Cup loss at Cheltenham last Saturday but the Robins were successful in their appeal and Thompson will not serve a three-match ban and is able to line up against Steve Cotterill's table-toppers.

Swindon will, however, be forced into at least two changes as they are without midfielders Massimo Luongo and Yaser Kasim, who are on international duty with Australia and Iraq respectively.

That means the likes of Ben Gladwin and Anton Rodgers will hope to step into Mark Cooper's XI.

Bristol City look set to be without striker Wes Burns when they make the short trip.

The Wales Under-21 international twisted his ankle in the first half of Tuesday night's 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and looks set to miss out but Steve Cotterill will recall fellow forward Kieran Agard, who was rested in midweek.

Cotterill made a number of changes for that victory and a number of his usual line-up will return to the side including Luke Ayling, Luke Freeman and Wade Elliott as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the League One season.

Bobby Reid was recalled from his loan spell at Plymouth on Thursday and could come into a Robins squad for the first time since September.