Eddie Howe v Paolo Di Canio

Despite Swindon Town's recent excellent run in the league, taking the club to the top of the form table in Europe, this Saturday's game against AFC Bournemouth is going to be a season-defining moment, as Paolo Di Canio would say. If Swindon Town are going to gain promotion to the Championship, teams such as AFC Bournemouth have to be beaten home and away. The first game this season saw the Town win 4 - 0 at home against an AFC Bournemouth side which was short on confidence and lacked their talisman, Eddie Howe. At the time, Howe was managing Burnley and the South Coast side seemed destined for a relegation dogfight this season. Various pressures exercised their force on Eddie Howe and suddenly he was back at Dean Court, pulling on the reins to tear the runaway cart away from the cliff and towards an inexorable climb up the table - hence the season-defining moment. With Howe back in the manager's hot seat Bournemouth have hit a purple patch and are now real contenders for a play-off place at the very least. A look at the Town's history at Bournemouth, and it would seem that Paolo Di Canio's nous for scheming and sussing out the opposition is going to be put to the greatest of tests. Hopefully, Swindon Town will be three points the richer come the full time whistle on the chilly South Coast tomorrow.