• Competition: England - League Two
• Date: Friday, 9th, August 2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK / 21.00 CEST
• Venue: SMH Group Stadium (Chesterfield)

Friday’s clash at SMH Group Stadium will mark the beginning of the English 2024-25 League Two campaign as hosts Chesterfield face off against Swindon Town in gameweek one.

Chesterfield finally ended their six-year wait to shed the non-league label after dominating the English fifth tier last season and securing direct promotion back to League Two with several games to spare. Indeed, Paul Cook’s side racked up an impressive 98 points and scored a remarkable 106 goals on their way to winning the National League title, finishing 12 points ahead of the closest challengers Barnet, although four of their final five outings resulted in loss.

Their first test in the comeback season comes against a Swindon Town side that has been steadily falling down the league table year after year, with the latest 2023-24 campaign seeing them finish 19th out of 24 teams, though they were 12 points clear of the drop zone. Although they were never in danger of relegation, the Robins struggled through what was their worst campaign during their three-year stint in League Two, so they will be eager to rectify all the issues and set things right this season.

Chesterfield vs Swindon Town Betting Tips: X2 (DOUBLE CHANCE)

In ths matchup that opens the door to the new 2024-25 League Two season, Chesterfield have the role of favorite and home advantage, but we expect their adaptation to the higher tier of English football to be difficult in the initial stages of the campaign. Furthermore, the Spireites displayed fluctuations in form and a lack of consistency during in preparation, registering three wins and an equal number of losses, with only one draw in the form of a goalless stalemate against 7th-division side Matlock at the start of the preseason. 

Unlike Friday's hosts, Swindon Town have warmed up nicely for their fourth straight League Two season, having emerged victorious in all but one of their six friendlies this summer. In response to a drastic decline in results over the past two years, the club's management acted swiftly by recruiting numerous new players, with the aim of getting the team back on course and in the running for a top-seven spot. Undeniably, Swindon were the worst travelers last season in England's fourth division, but with a fresh face at the helm and a strengthened squad, the Robins are expected to make a positive impression on the first matchday of the new season.