The Reds travel to the ICL Rail Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take on Cheltenham Town in the first away league game of the season.
Harry Kewell’s men will be looking to put the disappointment of the opening day loss to Port Vale and EFL Cup defeat to Birmingham City behind them, to record their first win of the new campaign.
Saturday’s match will also not only be Kewell’s first away league game with the Reds, but the first of his senior management career.
The Opposition:
Cheltenham’s league campaign didn't start as they would have hoped, as they let a first half lead slip away to Morecambe, conceding in the 90th minute to lose 2-1.
However, things improved during midweek as they advanced to the Second Round of the EFL Cup with a 4-3 win over Oxford United.
Full-time: #OUFC 3-4 #CTFC
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) August 8, 2017
What a win! Mo Eisa's stunning strike in extra time takes us into the 2nd round of the @Carabao_Cup! GET IN! pic.twitter.com/2OEVQ4kfCa
The Robins will be hoping to improve on last season’s finishing position, as they narrowly escaped relegation from the Football League by just two points, finishing two places below the Reds.
The Previous Meetings
Our record against Cheltenham Town has seen us lose three times, draw once and win the other contest back in 2012
The first time the two sides met was in August 2011 at the LCI Rail Stadium, and it ended 3-1 to the hosts.
Matt Tubbs scored our only goal that day as he converted from the spot just after half-time.
However, our following encounter would bring more joy, with the Reds coming out on top 4-2 in that seasons’ reverse fixture in February 2012 in West Sussex.
Despite going a goal down early own, braces from Sanchez Watt and Tyrone Barnett ensured the three points were the hosts'.
In October last year Kaby Djalo's first goal for the club was in vain as the Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat.
📝
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) August 10, 2017
Here's 5️⃣ things to consider ahead of @CTFCofficial... 🔴
✅ Previous goals
✅ Ref watch
✅ First away day
👉🏻 https://t.co/zQo9G7TIwR pic.twitter.com/9KVatKqVQ8
The most recent meeting took place in April this year, as we hosted a 0-0 draw at the Checkatrade Stadium on Good Friday.
It was the first time both sides had failed to find the net in any of our previous matches.
The Officials
Darren Drysdale will be taking charge of Saturday’s game in Gloucestershire.
Find details on his previous appointments and assistants for the afternoon here.
Ticket news
Tickets are unavailable for purchase prior to the game, however can be bought on the day at the ground - find the prices here.