Crawley Town Preview

After a disappointing showing on Wednesday night, Notts have had just 2 full days to prepare for Saturdays away trip to Crawley. With Wednesday looking like 2 points dropped, it seems Notts will be unable to reach the play offs this season. So with this in mind, let us have a look at what tomorrow might install. Notts are 3 places higher sat in 10th over Crawley by 2 points. However Crawley have 2 games in hand over Notts and for a team that has been very quiet all season, Crawley will be looking to join Notts on level points.

Crawley have lost 1 game in their last 5 matches and beat Bury 2-0 in their latest match whilst drawing to Carlisle 1-1 in the match prior to that. Notts’ loss on Wednesday came on the back of a win against Carlisle and a point against Tranmere.

The biggest blow for Notts comes as Dean Leacock picked up his 10th yellow card of the season and will miss tomorrows match. Leacock has certainly been a lynch pin of the Notts back four (or three) and will be sorely missed. This will provide however a chance to Manny Smith who has been suffocated of any game times this season. Of course, this is no certainty as Haydn Hollis put in a solid performance on Wednesday and could be partnered up with Gary Liddle at centre half. Both John Cofie and Julian Kelly are likely to miss out on tomorrows match with a facial injury and hamstring problem respectively.

Crawley could see the return of their top goal scorer Billy Clarke who has netted 12 goals already this season. He did not feature midweek and is likely to be much stronger and fitter in time for Notts’ game tomorrow. Crawley captain Josh Simpson is still absent with an ankle injury and Kyle McFadzean is still absent with a virus that he contracted in November.

Tomorrows match is certainly one in which features many injuries and absentees. Notts, although collecting more points than has been the case this season, have not been performing to a very good standard. It is likely that tomorrow will be a scrappy affair with both teams attempting to grind out a result to better off their standing. Notts still look unable to score and with Leacock missing, the midfield will be oh so vital in protecting the back line, as well as aiding the front pairing.

With all this considered, I am going to predict a draw tomorrow. The speculative score prediction would be 0-0 with Notts looking unable to do anything but defend and Crawley being a middle of the park team who have not been able to break down teams this season. All that said, expect a 4-4 all draw tomorrow…