Frustrated to concede late on away to Swindon last Saturday, Town return to the Envirovent Stadium this weekend looking to get back to winning ways against Crawley Town.
And in doing so they will seek to maintain their bid to be in the playoff mix against a side very much in the thick of the race themselves.
Our opponents
Like Town, Crawley still harbour playoff ambitions heading into the final stretch of the season. Coming into Saturday’s clash they too have 49 points but are a couple of places above Town in the table due to a superior goal difference.
They were dealt a blow in midweek though when they fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Morecambe, ending a run of three successive victories.
On their travels they have picked up 21 points and registering six victories from 17 games. Each of their last four away games have ended with a 1-0 scoreline – with Crawley winning two and losing two.
Previous meetings
Town fell to a 2-1 defeat at Crawley earlier in the season with Klaidi Lolos netting a second-half winner after Jack Muldoon had levelled Ben Gladwin’s opener.
At The Envirovent Stadium, Town are still seeking a first win over Saturday’s opponents, drawing two and losing one of the three games played so far.
Last season the two sides played out a goalless draw early in the season, whilst in 2021/22 the visitors went away with all three points thanks to late goals from Nik Tsaroulla and Tom Nichols in a 3-1 win.
In the first meeting between the sides back in 2020/21 Jack Muldoon struck five minutes from time to cancel out Max Watters first-half strike.
The man in charge
Scott Lindsay has been in the managers post since January 2023 when he left Swindon Town to take charge. In doing so he became the third man at the helm that season and after arriving with the side in relegation trouble a late season run secured safety and a 22nd placed finish, continuing that form over into this season.
Ones to watch
Crawley have two former Town players in their ranks. Danilo Orsi, who spent time at the club in the 2021/22 season signed from Grimsby Town this past summer. Orsi has netted 15 times so far this season, his best return in League Two. Jay Williams, who joined Town in January 2021 until the end of that campaign has made 28 appearances this season.
Forward Adam Campbell has six goals and four assists whilst Liam Kelly has three goals and seven assist from midfield after arriving from Rochdale last summer.
There has been much change to the squad since the end of last season but two familiar faces - Nick Tsaroulla and Dion Conroy – have remained a strong presence, whilst Corey Addai has had another good season in goal.
History
Having turned semi-pro back in 1962 when they were admitted to the Southern League, Crawley are one of the newest members of the Football League having won promotion from the Conference in 2011/12.
They then secured a successive promotion from League Two, also undertaking an impressive FA Cup run as they dispatched two Championship sides before exiting to Stoke City in the fifth-round.
The club spent three seasons in League before relegation back to League Two in 2015, where they have remained since.
Team news
Simon Weaver continues to be without Lewis Thomas, Rod McDonald and Sam Folarin and they were joined on the sidelines by Liam Gibson after he sustained an injury in Saturday's draw with Swindon.
