Jack Bycroft and Dan Barden will continue their fight to prove that they should be Swindon Town’s regular number one.

The pair were described as “two number ones” by former head coach Mark Kennedy before his departure as he played the pair of them, Bycroft having started nine League Two matches this season and Barden five.

Bycroft started the campaign as the number one before being replaced by Barden for the game at Tranmere Rovers but the boyhood Town fan has come back into the line-up in the two games since Kennedy left.

Bycroft and Barden's season statsBycroft and Barden's season stats (Image: FotMob)

Statistically, there has been little to separate the two ‘keepers' performance so far this season, although Bycroft has shown to be more accurate with his distribution.

New manager Ian Holloway said that he has been very enthused to see the two of them since his arrival but it was very much a challenge for the two of them to prove they should be starting.

He said: “If we are playing and we are winning then I don’t really change things [with the goalkeepers] and if they are fit and doing what I want then I don’t care who is the number one.

“We have got two very good goalies and it is a bit weird that they are a similar age, normally you would have an older one and a younger one who is learning but I love the freshness of both of them.

 

 

“I have been very impressed with the one who has played so far, which is our fella Bycroft, but I can’t wait to see what Dan does because I have had to applaud him in training.

“I have never seen so many great saves at both ends as I have here and I have had some brilliant goalies.

“I am quite surprised and really pleased with the standard that we have got there.

“It is for them to fight it out, it is not for me to decide, and there is a really healthy challenge between the two of them and I love that.

“It is almost a testosterone off, you know, ‘Look at me, look at me’ – it is just brilliant.

“But if they can’t learn from Milds [Steve Mildenhall] then I don’t know what they are doing, they are both in the right place, for me, I love his enthusiasm.

“I think they are very lucky to be here and I can’t wait to see Dan tomorrow.”