SWINDON Town will kick off their Carabao Cup campaign with a local derby after being pitted against Forest Green Rovers at home in the first round following today’s draw.

Phil Brown’s men will welcome near neighbours and League Two rivals Rovers to the Energy Check County Ground in week commencing August 13.

The match marks another meeting against former Swindon boss Mark Cooper and is the first competitive fixture of the 2018-19 season to be confirmed for Town, although it is likely to be the third game they play.

Brown and his troops will discover their full fixture programme next week when the EFL release the schedule for each club on Thursday, June 21, with the league season beginning on Saturday, August 4.

Town faced Forest Green on three occasions last season under the guidance of former boss David Flitcroft, claiming a 2-0 success in the league at the New Lawn before triumphing 1-0 in the reverse fixture back on home turf.

However, Swindon were unable to complete a clean sweep as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Rovers at the Energy Check County Ground in the second round of the Checkatrade Trophy.

Town have been handed glamour ties away to Championship opposition in the first round of the Carabao Cup in each of the last two seasons.

Last term, they were beaten 3-2 by Norwich City at Carrow Road, having gone down on penalties to Queens Park Rangers 12 months earlier after a 2-2 draw at Loftus Road.

Although there is no illustrious opposition lying in wait this year, the prospect of an additional local derby on the calendar is sure to whet the appetite of the supporters of both sets of clubs.