Swindon Town vs Peterborough United

Posh are back in Vertu Trophy action on Tuesday night with a trip to Sky Bet League Two side Swindon Town (7.30pm).

Peterborough United's defence of the EFL Trophy will be put to the test on Tuesday night as Luke Williams takes his Posh side to Wiltshire to face Sky Bet League Two promotion hopefuls Swindon Town (7.30pm).

The Robins, who are managed by Ian Holloway, have enjoyed a fine start to the campaign and go into the game on the back of an excellent 2-1 victory at Chesterfield on Saturday.

TEAM NEWS

Posh are without the services of Rio Adebisi, Sam Hughes, Cian Hayes and Jacob Mendy due to injury, but George Nevett is nearing a return to training after a foot injury.

Swindon have bolstered their options this season and have plenty of strength in depth, particularly in attack with Ollie Palmer, Aaron Drinan, Tom Nichols and Paul Glatzel all available for selection.

ONE TO WATCH

Tom Nichols

Tom Nichols (pictured below) will be familiar to Posh fans after a spell at the club in 2016 following a move from Exeter City. He scored 14 goals in 58 appearances for the club as a central striker, but these days he plays a little deeper, where he can dictate the play with an effortless range of passing. He is still a fox in the box though and will need to be carefully marshalled should he start at the County Ground.

MANAGER QUOTES

"There are a lot of good people at Swindon and I learned a lot during my time with them. I think I experienced quite a lot in terms of what you deal with as a manager and that stood me in good stead for the future. They are a side that could easily cope at League One level, they have some really good players at the level and it will be a tough test for us, but we have a good record in this competition and we want that to continue," Luke Williams said.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are on sale until 12pm from the Weston Homes Stadium Ticket Office and online at www.theposhtickets.com. Supporters can pay on the night from the Away Ticket Office from 6.30pm (card only). Collections will also be available here.

As of 11am on Monday, 205 tickets had been sold in advance. Tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for over 65s and £2 for Under 18s.

COMPETITION RULES

If the tie is level after 90 minutes, the game will be settled via penalty kicks.

KIT COLOURS

Posh will be in the third kit for this fixture, which can be purchased here

OFFICIALS

Dale Baines is the match referee.

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Hopes of retaining the Vertu Trophy for the third season in a row over following defeat in Wiltshire.

Peterborough United will not be visiting Wembley in the Vertu Trophy final in 2026 after being knocked out at the Round of 32 stage by Sky Bet League Two side Swindon Town at the County Ground.

A goal three minutes from time by Ollie Clarke secured a 1-0 win for the Robins at the end of a game where, what chances were created, came the way of Luke Williams' side who were wasteful in front of goal.

Substitute Gustav Lindgren was superbly denied by Swindon goalkeeper Lewis Ward while Brandon Khela fired over in stoppage time as Posh suffered a third straight defeat in all competitions.

It wasn't a game flush with clear-cut opportunities, particularly in the first half with an effort from Harry Leonard, which went wide, the only real moment of quality.

At the other end, Posh defended well and restricted the hosts to just half-chances with Alex Bass largely inactive in the Posh goal.

Lindgren's chance was created by himself, but his low left-foot shot was superbly repelled by Ward at full stretch, down to his left.

The goal arrived on 87 minutes with midfielder CLARKE timing his run into the box to perfection before slotting his shot past Bass and into the bottom corner.

Substitute Khela fired over at the back post deep in stoppage time as Posh tried to find an immediate riposte, but it was not to be as the Robins continued their fine season with progress in the trophy.

Swindon Town: Ward, Wright, Ball (sub Nichols 57min), Glatzel (sub Snowdon 57min), Kilkenny (sub Clarke 57min), Munroe, Bodin (sub Tabor 57min), McGregor, Oldaker (Drinan 46min), Knight-Lebel, Ehibhatiomhan. Unused subs: Ripley, Gray.

Posh: Bass, Johnston, Collins, Odoh, Frith (sub Lisbie 64min), Woods (sub O’Brien-Brady 75min), Mills, Okagbue, Leonard, Garbett (sub Lindgren 75min), O'Connor. Unused subs: Reyes, Dornelly, Lolos, Khela.

Half-time: Swindon Town 0-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Swindon Town 1-0 Peterborough United
Attendance: 2,135 (239 Posh fans)
Referee: Dale Baines