Swindon Town face a difficult League Two trip to high-flying Barnet on Tuesday night with their squad depleted by injury and their away form a major concern.
Manager Ian Holloway confirmed experienced defender Butler is out for the moment but could be fit for the weekend, while strikers Harry Smith and Ollie Palmer remain sidelined. The absence of key forwards adds to the challenge of ending a run of five away matches without a goal, a sequence that would match a club record if extended at The Hive.
Holloway's tactical outlook
Ian Holloway discussed the need for his side to handle pressure better and find a way to score first. "I didn't anticipate having the use of many of these straight away, and luckily one of them's experienced in Butler," he said, referencing the injury situation. The manager believes keeping a clean sheet could be the foundation for turning results around, but acknowledged the opponent is very different from the one they faced last Saturday.
He expects midfielder Ollie Clarke to give everything and wants winger Joseph Hungbo to play with confidence. Holloway referenced a long-term project, saying a quarter of a two-year plan spread over three seasons is complete, and stressed he is still learning how to communicate with his players.
Formidable Barnet challenge
The task is immense against a Barnet side sitting second in the league table with 21 points from nine unbeaten games. They have won three and drawn one of their four home matches this term, scoring 10 goals at The Hive. Their last outing was a 2-1 away win at Tranmere Rovers.
Swindon's own form is a stark contrast. They sit 18th in League Two with 12 points from 11 games, having drawn 1-1 with Walsall last time out where Aaron Drinan scored his 22nd goal of the season. Their recent run reads five games without a win, with two draws and three defeats.
They have taken just one point from a possible 15 on the road this season, failing to score in any of those five matches. The last meeting between the sides saw Barnet win 2-0 at the County Ground.
Swindon Town's next fixture at The Hive Stadium kicks off at 7.45pm on Tuesday.
