The Reds will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host Carlisle United at The People’s Pension Stadium this Saturday, 3pm.
Crawley have won just once in seven games in League Two, while Carlisle have won just once in their last five – although that was last Saturday when they demolished Colchester United 4-0 at Brunton Park.
Last time out, the Reds tasted defeat on the road when they were beaten 2-0 at Macclesfield in horrendous blustery and icy conditions.
HEAD TO HEAD
Reds haven't fared to well over the years against Saturday's opponents and they will be keen to improve their fortunes when John Sheridan's side come to The People's Pension Stadium.
Our record against Carlisle since we first met in the Football League is one win, four draws and five defeats. That victory came in our first ever league trip to Brunton Park in September 2012, when almost 200 Reds fan made the mammoth journey to Cumbria.
After a goalless first half, Nathan Byrne and Nicky Adams scored in the space of ten minutes to seal a memorable 2-0 win and send the travelling army home happy.
We then went on to draw three successive games with the Cumbrians – two 1-1 draws followed by a goalless stalemate at the Broadfield Stadium in April 2014. Carlisle then won three on the trot between November 2015 and October 2016.
The hosts were then 3-0 up inside the first half in Cumbria with Mark Connolly scoring in second-half stoppage time, meaning the game ended 3-1 again in November 2016.
April 2017 saw us involved in a thrilling 3-3 draw with United here at home. James Collins’ brace in the first 30 minutes – one of them a penalty – saw us race into a 2-0 lead before the visitors pegged us back to 2-2 through Jabo Ibehre and former Red Jamie Proctor.
There was another high-octane encounter in the first part of last season, which saw three red cards. After a stalemate in the first half, Hallam Hope put Carlisle ahead just five minutes into the second period. Richie Bennett was sent off with 15 minutes to go and then, after a clash in stoppage time, Josh Yorwerth and Tom Parkes were both dismissed but Carlisle held on to claim a 1-0 victory.
The Reds came from two goals down to snatch a point in our last trip to Brunton Park in March. Hope and Bennett were involved again as they both scored a goal each either side of half time to put Carlisle 2-0 in front. Karlan Ahearne-Grant was the man to save the day for Town as his brace secured a valuable point and an impressive comeback on a snowy afternoon at Brunton Park.
STAR MAN
Ashley Nadesan: A Horley native who worked in McDonalds while playing for Horley Town, Nadesan made a huge move to Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2016 and made his Football League debut against AFC Wimbledon shortly after. After a spell in the development sides at Fleetwood, he was sent out on loan to Carlisle where he has since become a seasoned goalscorer. An initial six-month loan saw Nadesan score four times, before the loan was extended last summer allowing him to stay at Brunton Park until the end of this season. He has bettered his goal tally this time round, and is currently on eight goals for the campaign.
TICKETS
Tickets for this fixture are available from now up until kick off on Saturday and can be bought from the ticket office (Friday 9am-4.30pm, Sat 10am) and from Redz Bar and cash pods by the South Terrace. You can also call 01293 410000 to purchase over the phone for collection at the stadium.
Unfortunately our online ticket facility is currently unavailable.
COVERAGE
The game is available to listen to on iFollow Crawley for subscribers from 2.55pm, with live commentary from BBC Sussex and Surrey’s Gary Smith, with summarising from Reds legend Tony Vessey.
You must be a subscriber to watch (overseas only) or listen (UK) to this service. You can do so here.
There will also be coverage across our social media channels throughout the afternoon. @crawleytown on Twitter, Crawley Town FC on Facebook and crawley_town_fc on Instagram.
Pictured: Dannie Bulman in action against Carlisle last season.
