The Reds have an opportunity to progress to the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup for the first time since 2013 when we replay our First Round tie with Southend United on Tuesday night.
After a 1-1 draw at Roots Hall, the replay at the Broadfield will be a welcome distraction from the league where the Reds have lost three in a row following a 1-0 defeat at Grimsby on Saturday.
Southend are currently 14th in Sky Bet League One after three consecutive defeats to Walsall, Barnsley and Blackpool.
The winner of the tie will be rewarded with a home match against League One high flyers Barnsley.
HEAD TO HEAD
Southend and Crawley have only faced each other fives times previously – twice in League Two and twice in the Checkatrade Trophy under its previous guise, and of course the tie in Essex 10 days ago,
The first meeting between the clubs was only Crawley’s third game in the Football League, when the Reds ran out 3-0 winners at the Broadfield Stadium. Dean Howell gave the Reds the lead before a brace from Matt Tubbs made the score line more emphatic.
Just two weeks after that game, Liam Dickinson scored the only goal but was also sent off as Southend knocked Crawley out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Roots Hall.
The following March, the Reds travelled to their promotion rivals for a televised Monday night fixture in Essex, that saw Chris Barker sent off for the hosts, who were forced to play with nine men when they lost a player to injury after three substitutions. Crawley threw everything at their opponents but were forced to settle for a goalless draw.
That was our final meeting until 2015, when another JPT game took place, this time in Sussex. Myles Weston’s strike and a Joe Pigott double knocked Reds out once again as the visitors picked up a convincing 3-0 win.
FA CUP RECORD
Although Reds fans fondly remember successive appearances in the fifth round in 2011 and 2012 our FA Cup record since then is not good. Infact, our last win in the competition was the 2-1 success at Hednesford in 2013 - nearly five years ago. We lost to Bristol Rovers in the second round and since then have suffered first round exits to Yeovil Town, Luton Town, Bristol Rovers and Wigan Athletic.
Southend's recent FA Cup record is not much better with first round defeats in the last four seasons.
ONE TO WATCH
A Republic of Ireland international and all round prolific scorer, Simon Cox is Southend’s one to watch on Saturday. Cox joined Southend in the summer of 2016 and has missed just a handful of games in his three seasons with the club. Originally a Reading youngster, Cox was with his home town club until 2008, and re-signed for them in 2014, where he spent an additional two years and scored nine goals. He has hit seven goals for Southend this term and is likely to be well into double figures before the season is out.
TICKETS
A reminder that ALL TICKETS for this game are just £5, excluding U11's who are just £1. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office until 7pm Monday or from 9am until kick off on Tuesday. Alternatively, call 01293 410005 and book over the phone.
We are unable to process online tickets for this fixture.
COVERAGE
Gary Smith will provide live audio coverage (UK users) coverage with video coverage (Overseas only) on iFollow Crawley from 7.40pm.
To subscribe to iFollow, click here.
Keep up to date on Twitter @crawleytown, search Crawley Town FC on Facebook and on Instagram it's @crawley_town_fc for all the action throughout the afternoon.
