MATCHES against Swindon Town evoke some special memories for Wanderers fans… well, all except for the titanic League Cup tie in 1989.

From a seven goal rout for Colin Todd’s record-breakers in 1997 to an exciting League Cup semi-final victory settled by John McGinlay in 1995, there has always been something to talk about when the two sides meet.

The first meeting between Bolton and Swindon was in the 1914 FA Cup – Wanderers running out 4-2 winners with a hat-trick from the legendary Joe Smith.

Swindon have won eight of the 26 games between the clubs, half of which came in a purple patch between 1969 and 1971 in the old Division Two.

The Robins inflicted another double on Phil Neal’s team in 1986/87, including an opening day win at Burnden as Peter Coyne scored twice to cancel out George Oghani’s early effort.

Happier times were to come for the Whites but not before a mammoth Littlewoods Cup tie which is still talked about by both sets of fans to this day.

Mark Came snatched a draw in the first game with a 25-yard blast after Gary Henshaw and Tony Philliskirk’s goals had been cancelled out by Alan McLoughlin, Duncan Shearer and Ross McClaren.

Back at Burnden, the first replay ended goal-less after 90 minutes but Phil Brown thought he had won it with a brilliant 25-yard blast eight minutes before the end. Shearer’s late header forced another game a week later.

Philliskirk opened the scoring from the spot in the second Burnden game, McClaren then missing from the spot for the Robins. Steve White did grab an equaliser but both Julian Darby and Barry Cowdrill had goals ruled out before a record-equalling fourth game was needed.

Swindon finally won through on home turf, Steve White opened the scoring on the hour before Mark Came levelled the scores for Bolton. McLaren then popped up with a winner three minutes from time.

Wanderers are unbeaten against Swindon ever since – gaining revenge over two legs in the 1995 Coca Cola Cup semi-final.

After Alan Stubbs had opened the scoring at the County Ground, Peter Thorne’s two goals put Swindon in charge.

The replay was postponed once but after Norwegian Jan Age Fjortoft had extended their advantage to 3-1 on aggregate, Jason McAteer, Mixu Paatelainen and the ever-reliable McGinlay booked a final date with Liverpool.

The 7-0 win en route to the 1997 First Division title prompted the BBC Wiltshire commentator Stuart Mac ended up in tears as he recounted the scorers – Alan Thompson, Per Frandsen, Jamie Pollock, Gudni Bergsson (2), McGinlay – of course – and Nathan Blake.