Five things to look out for against Swindon Town…
1. Premier League arrival…
Matt Taylor joined Swindon Town earlier this week. The former Northampton Town midfielder signed with the Robins seeking first-team football as the side look for immediate promotion back to League One.
The Englishman, who has appeared in the Premier League for Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Burnley and could make his debut for David Flitcroft’s men at the weekend.
2. Last minute West Country winners…
The Reds have twice struck late to secure victory at the County Ground – in the FA Cup in the 2010-11 season with a late 3-2 win, and again in February 2015 where the side sealed a dramatic late 2-1 victory.
That first in the FA Cup came courtesy of a Ben Smith strike two minutes before the end of extra time to send Steve Evans’ side into the Third Round of the historic competition.
The second was through Gavin Tomlin’s late winner in the latter half of the 2014-15 season, after Andy Williams had cancelled out Anthony Wordsworth’s early opener (pictured above).
3. League Debut…
📝
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) August 23, 2017
Brett Huxtable to take charge of trip to @Official_STFC on Saturday afternoon... 🔴
👉🏻 https://t.co/Fen9RN1Fj4 pic.twitter.com/ciAumaJvXk
The referee for Saturday’s game at the County Ground is Brett Huxtable – and the contest will be the first in League Two that he has taken charge of this term.
So far the Devonshire based official has refereed two League One matches and a game in both the EFL Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy
4. Pay on the day for Reds fans…
Travelling Crawley Town supporters will be able to pay on the day at the County Ground for the game - the away ticket office is situated near to the away turnstiles at the Arkells end of the ground. It is open from 12.30pm on the day of the game and they will be taking both cash and card payments.
5. An overdue win on the road?
The side’s last away win came on the 25th February over Wycombe Wanderers, where Josh Payne's goal of the season winning free-kick gave the Reds a 2-1 win. Adebayo Akinfenwa had given the hosts an early lead when he converted from close range, but Joe McNerney’s equalising header from a corner meant the sides went in all square at the break.
It was left for substitute Payne to take centre stage and seal what would turn out to be a vital three points for the visiting side.
Last time out on the road in the league the Reds fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town, where Mo Eisa’s first-half header was enough for the home side to prevail.
