Crawley Town v Stevenage preview: Reds looking to extend unbeaten run to 11 games

Crawley Town host Stevenage in midweek in what is the Reds’ first game since their 3-0 thumping of Premier League Leeds United.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

After Saturday’s postponement against Bradford City, Crawley remain unbeaten in their last ten games and will look to make that 11 at the People’s Pension Stadium on Tuesday night.

Their opponents Stevenage are a side Crawley would expect to beat if they want to make a play-off push.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Action from Stevenage's FA Cup third round tie with Swansea CityAction from Stevenage's FA Cup third round tie with Swansea City
Action from Stevenage's FA Cup third round tie with Swansea City

Stevenage are currently hovering over the relegation zone, with goal difference the only thing keeping them out the drop zone. A defeat at Crawley could see them move into the drop zone depending on how Southend get on against Cambridge.

However, Stevenage come into the game unbeaten in their last four league games, with two wins and two draws. Both of these draws have come away from the Lamex Stadium against Cheltenham and Tranmere.

These were two of the six points that Stevenage have picked up away from home all season, as they have struggled massively on the road. All of these points have been draws, with zero away wins to their name and just six goals scored Boro have lacked quality away from home and find it difficult to break teams down.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, they have been very active in the January transfer window in order to try and patch this and guide them away from the relegation zone. It’s the second successive season Stevenage have struggled at the wrong end of the table, only staying up last season due to Macclesfield getting a point deduction.

On paper it’s a game that Crawley are expected to win but Crawley will know it won’t be a walk in the park as they have been turned over before. Winnable home games like Southend and Grimsby this season come to mind where the Reds failed to beat teams they would feel they should be beating.

They’ll have to be alert and put Saturday’s cup tie at Bournemouth to the back of their heads in order to avoid losing their unbeaten run on Tuesday.

The Reds won’t be short on confidence with everyone in the team in great form at the moment there isn’t a player that could be singled out to be performing poorly at the moment. There could be debuts for James Tilley and Jordan Maguire-Drew if they are selected but they’ll find it tough to get into a Crawley team that is on fire at the moment.

Anything other than three points will feel like a poor result to Crawley so they need to be alert and not become complacent.