Head-to-Head: Swindon Town

Last updated : 07 July 2013 By @blades_mad1889

Swindon Town have been in existence since 1879 and are 134 years old this year, however due to the formation of the initial Football League in 1888 being made up. In 1894 they became a professional club but had to wait until 1920 until they entered the Football League when they became founder members of the new Division Three.

The Blades and the Robins had to wait until 1969-70 Second Division campaign until we would first meet in the league. We had faced Town on three processional occasions previously in the FA Cup. Our first cup exploits together came in January 1908 when after a 0-0 draw at the County Ground United lost the reply 3-2 in extra-time at the Lane despite goals from Arthur Brown and Bert Lipsahm.

This however wasn’t the first meeting of the two teams, in November 1892, Arthur Watson scored a hat-trick as United recorded a 6-0 friendly win over their opponents.

Our FA Cup misery continued in 1921 when Town beat United 1-0 in Wiltshire. They were to continue their dominance over their Sheffield rivals when they were finally pitted against one another in the league; Swindon winning both games (1969-70) by two goals to one. In August 1970 another 2-1 score-line, this time by United was enough to secure their first victory of the two teams.

The Third Division season of 1980-81 saw both clubs record their highest victories against one another; on 6 September the Blades won 3-0 at the Lane and on Valentine’s Day the Robins acted revenge in a 5-2 (Andy Rowland treble) win on their home soil.

Whilst the pair has met mostly in the middle two tiers of the Football League, only one season has been played in top flight. Following their eventual promotion top the Premier League in 1993 the Blades became there first ever opponents in this Division, Jan Fjortoft (54 minutes) had cancelled out John Reed’s (11) earlier goal, but Pat Bodin (66) put through his own net and Adrian Littlejohn (78) completed the scoring in a 3-1 win.

Whilst the Robins had early dominance in our encounters, United have only been beaten once since 1987 (16 meetings), that solo defeat came in February 1997 when a David Holdsworth double set Town on their way to a 2-1 win. Although a Blades defender he was unfortunate enough, whilst already one goal behind to head the ball past his own keeper; Alan Kelly – he later netted at the right end but his goal wasn’t enough.

Statistically Swindon have only ever beaten United once at Bramall Lane – this came on 9 February 1970 when Town recorded a 2-1 win. The Blades have won nine games in the twelve matches played in S2.

United and Town played out encounters against one another last season, they drew 0-0 at the County Ground on 6 November which at the time was enough to push the Blades to top of the league and latter on in the campaign, when United was chasing automatic promotion in interim manager Chris Morgan’s first match in charge goals from Chris Porter and Dave Kitson set-up a splendid 2-0 victory.

At Sheff. Utd. (13)

 

At Swindon Town (13)

Results

Total

%

 

Results

Total

%

Sheff. Utd.

10

76.92

 

Swindon Town

6

46.15

Swindon Town

1

7.69

 

Sheff. Utd.

2

15.38

Draws

2

15.38

 

Draws

5

38.46

Goals

Total

Av.pg

 

Goals

Total

Av.pg

Sheff. Utd.

26

2.00

 

Swindon Town

23

1.77

Swindon Town

11

0.85

 

Sheff. Utd.

16

1.23

On Neutral Ground (0)

 

Overall (26 matches)

Results

Total

%

 

Results

Total

%

Sheff. Utd.

0

0.00

 

Sheff. Utd.

12

46.15

Swindon Town

0

0.00

 

Swindon Town

7

26.92

Draws

0

0.00

 

Draws

7

26.92

Goals

Total

Av.pg

 

Goals

Total

Av.pg

Sheff. Utd.

0

0.00

 

Sheff. Utd.

42

1.62

Swindon Town

0

0.00

 

Swindon Town

34

1.31

 

Records

Highest Aggregate

7

Swindon Town 

5 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

1980/1981 

Highest Sheff. Utd. score:

3

Sheff. Utd. 

3 - 0

Swindon Town

1980/1981 

Highest Swindon Town score:

5

Swindon Town 

5 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

1980/1981 

 

Season

Date

Home

Score

Away

Competition

2012/2013

Sat 13 Apr

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 0

Swindon Town

League One  

 

Tue 06 Nov

Swindon Town

0 - 0

Sheff. Utd.

League One  

1999/2000

Sun 07 May

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 2

Swindon Town

League Division One  

 

Sat 23 Oct

Swindon Town

2 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

League Division One  

1998/1999

Sat 09 Jan

Swindon Town

2 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

League Division One  

 

Sat 08 Aug

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 1

Swindon Town

League Division One  

1997/1998

Mon 13 Apr

Swindon Town

1 - 1

Sheff. Utd.

League Division One  

 

Sat 13 Dec

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 1

Swindon Town

League Division One  

1996/1997

Sat 01 Feb

Swindon Town

2 - 1

Sheff. Utd.

League Division One  

 

Tue 26 Nov

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 0

Swindon Town

League Division One  

1994/1995

Sat 15 Apr

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 2

Swindon Town

League Division One  

 

Tue 27 Dec

Swindon Town

1 - 3

Sheff. Utd.

League Division One  

1993/1994

Sat 04 Dec

Swindon Town

0 - 0

Sheff. Utd.

Premiership  

 

Sat 14 Aug

Sheff. Utd.

3 - 1

Swindon Town

Premiership  

1989/1990

Sun 10 Dec

Swindon Town

0 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

Second Division  

 

Tue 12 Sep

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 0

Swindon Town

Second Division  

1987/1988

Sun 20 Dec

Sheff. Utd.

1 - 0

Swindon Town

Second Division  

 

Sat 22 Aug

Swindon Town

2 - 0

Sheff. Utd.

Second Division  

1980/1981

Sat 14 Feb

Swindon Town

5 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

Third Division  

 

Sat 06 Sep

Sheff. Utd.

3 - 0

Swindon Town

Third Division  

1979/1980

Sat 03 Nov

Swindon Town

3 - 2

Sheff. Utd.

Third Division  

 

Sat 18 Aug

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 1

Swindon Town

Third Division  

1970/1971

Sat 19 Dec

Swindon Town

3 - 0

Sheff. Utd.

Second Division  

 

Sat 22 Aug

Sheff. Utd.

2 - 1

Swindon Town

Second Division  

1969/1970

Mon 09 Feb

Sheff. Utd.

1 - 2

Swindon Town

Second Division  

 

Sat 11 Oct

Swindon Town

2 - 1

Sheff. Utd.

Second Division