The Reds will travel to Colchester United on Saturday looking to pick up their first away win under Gabriele Cioffi and build on good recent league form.
Despite defeat to Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy in midweek, Crawley put in another good performance on home patch and will look to build on that at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and pick up three points on the road for the first since beating Lincoln City last month.
HEAD TO HEAD
Crawley have an excellent record against Colchester, having lost just twice to the U’s in ten Football League meetings. Those defeats both came last season, meaning the Reds had a nine match unbeaten run when playing the Essex side, winning five and drawing four, which included one Checkatrade Trophy match.
Our last three visits to Essex have been high scoring affairs with at least four goals in each match, including two 3-2 wins for the Reds. The last time we visited the WH Community Stadium, the Reds were on the wrong end of a 3-1 score line as Sammy Szmodics, Ryan Jackson and Mikael Mandron all scored first half goals to secure the win, despite Jimmy Smith scoring a consolation in the second half.
Smith was on the score sheet in our last win in Colchester – three times in fact – as his hat trick meant the Reds would go home happy after a 3-2 win in February 2017. Denny Johnstone had given the U’s the lead, but Smith three goals put us well ahead before Brennan Dickinson added a late second for the home side in second half stoppage time.
Our other 3-2 win at Colchester was a huge clash at the bottom of League One in the season we eventually were relegated to League Two. Colchester, fighting with us at the bottom of the table were just as desperate for points as us and this showed as they took the lead Szmodics gave them the lead inside ten minutes. Ryan Dickson and Gavin Tomlin had the Reds ahead just before the break, but David Fox leveled just after the break. Izale McLeod’s penalty sealed the result, slotting calmly to send the travelling Reds fans delirious – including a full on parade dancing their way out of the stadium.
ONE TO WATCH
Striker Luke Norris has bagged six goals for the U’s so far this season, including two braces in away fixtures at Cheltenham and Oldham. The prolific attacker joined Colchester from Swindon the summer and has adapted quickly to his new side, making himself one of the first names on the teamsheet. Norris will face a number of familiar faces on Saturday, including former Gillingham team-mate Glenn Morris and his brother-in-law Lewis Young.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets for Saturday's trip to Colchester United on Saturday will be available from the Box Office until 4pm on Friday.
Colchester operate a progressive pricing structure with the cost of the tickets increasing week by week in the buildup to the game.
Reds fans have been allocated 188 tickets in the Jobserve East Stand and 'Advance' price tickets are now available.
Adults - £22, Concessions - £16, U18 - £11.50, U14 - £5, U11 - free*, Carers - free.
*Additional - £2.
'Matchday' prices on Saturday are: Adults - £24, Concessions - £18, U18 - £13.50, U14 - £5.50, U11 - free*, Carers - free.
*Additional - £2.50.
COVERAGE
iFollow Crawley will provide all the usual coverage for UK & overseas subscribers from 2.55pm, with live commentary from BBC Sussex & Surrey's Gary Smith.
Keep up to date all afternoon on the official Crawley Town social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
