Opinion: Crawley Town fixture pile-up raises new worries

No more call-offs please - we could do with the sun shining from now to May / Picture: Getty

Whilst there might have been some sort of perverse relief felt when the conditions led to the postponement of Saturday’s game against Carlisle United at Brunton Park, the reality is that the fixture will now have to be played on a Tuesday evening.

That happened a few seasons ago when the Cumbrians were the visitors and even then, the game was played at the third attempt as the original Tuesday chosen was also ruled out. The outstanding memory of that night is that despite the difficulties facing them more than 400 Carlisle fans made the trip.

There are only two vacant Tuesdays before the end of the season for Crawley Town to fit in the fixture. However is it not that simple. Although the Reds have 21 games to play the Cumbrians have two more than that.

It is quite possible they already have games lined up on the Tuesdays we have available so the prospect of playing three times in a week is quite likely. Furthermore the EFL will not be keen to extend the season beyond May 8.

Fixture congestion will prove another test for the managers in addition to trying to restore the confidence the team have lost over the weeks since the FA Cup game against Leeds United. The opportunity is there for them to ring the changes in team selection but that is certainly not something I could do easily. It will be difficult to make unenforced changes without risking the confidence and self belief of any players who are dropped.

Maybe it shouldn’t be problematic as the game is no longer simply eleven against eleven. Against Harrogate Town, John Yems made five substitutions in an attempt to alter the balance of play.

Unlike the sport I first followed in the 1950s football now is a squad game. In my youth an injured player often ended up hobbling on the left wing with the instructions “Make a nuisance of yourself”. I am sufficiently old school to still wonder whether the game is any better for changes like that.

What we all want most is the chance to get back into the stadium to cheer on our team. It might happen before the season ends but my suggestion is “Don’t hold your breath”.

The unprecedented ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic affect us all but impact more significantly on those who have to actually make decisions. To that end I know the next starting line-up will be the best one the managers can decide upon. Maybe they will prove that against Stevenage on Tuesday night.