Crawley Town aim to bounce back from recent defeat as they welcome revived Stevenage side to the People’s Pension Stadium

Credit: Crawley Town FC

John Yems’ Crawley Town side have enjoyed some good mid-season form which has brought them back into the play-off race.

The Red Devils experienced midweek heartbreak in Wiltshire as Swindon Town’s Ben Gladwin scored a 92nd-minute equaliser to deny Crawley all three points. This came after the West Sussex side had come out on the right end of late drama with a sensational midweek win at Valley Parade as Crawley ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a 95th-minute goal from Tony Craig.

Six straight defeats in all competitions from mid-October through to early November had Crawley fans disgruntled, but an impressive run that has seen just three defeats in 12 has turned the tides.

Crawley were eliminated at the earliest possible round in every cup competition this season, so perhaps being able to direct all of their attentions into the league has served them well.

After a lightning start to the season, Ghanaian striker Kwesi Appiah has struggled for fitness for the Red Devils. As such, players like Tom Nichols and Ashley Nadesan have had to step up with the goal threat. In truth though, Yems has inspired players from all over the pitch to contribute, with five different goal scorers in the previous seven games.

Having struggled in previous seasons and being bailed out by the demise of Macclesfield Town and Bury, there has been a turnaround for Stevenage, who have managed to haul themselves 12 points clear of danger.

Goals from Jake Taylor and Luke Norris were enough for Boro to claim all three points last month and Paul Tisdale will be confident his side can travel down and retrieve all three points from Sussex.

Yems’ Red Devils have registered just one win in which the goal margin was more than one all season, so this game is likely to end up being a closely fought affair.

Stevenage have been rather more free-scoring than their hosts in recent weeks, scoring three goals in three of their last six matches. They will look to assert themselves in an attacking sense with Luke Norris finding form at the right time as the 28-year-old has scored four goals in his last five matches.

Whilst Crawley’s pre-season expectations may have been higher, Stevenage will see this as an opportunity to start a winning run for a rather unlikely late play-off charge of their own.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils will see this as an opportunity for three points at home and will look to use the remaining 19 games to make a serious play-off charge.

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