SCENE SETTER
Reds take on Premier League opposition for the first time since January 2013 when we take on Norwich City tonight in the second round of the Carabao Cup. It's the first time we have reached this stage of the competition since August 2014 - when we lost 3-1 to the Canaries at Carrow Road.
THE FORM GUIDE
Reds returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 3-2 success at Leyton Orient thanks to two goals from Ollie Palmer and a third of the season by Nathan Ferguson.
Norwich lost 3-2 at home to Chelsea, having won their first Premier League game of the season a week earlier when Newcastle were beaten 3-1. Their first league match of the season ended in a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool.
PAST MEETINGS
The last time Reds played at this stage of the League Cup was back in 2014 and coincidentally our opponents were Norwich.
The game was played at Carrow Road and Reds gave a good account of themselves before losing 3-1. Trailing 2-0 to goals from Cameron Jerome and Josh Murphy either side of half-time, we pulled one back when Carlos Cuellar sliced a cross into his own net.
For the next 30 minutes the hosts were under severe pressure. Izale McLeod had an effort cleared off the line before Canaries’ keeper Declan Rudd brilliantly denied Gavin Tomlin. But as Reds pushed more men forward, Murphy got a second in stoppage time to seal Norwich’s passage into the third round.
The clubs also met in a pre-season friendly at Norwich's training ground last July losing 2-0. The Canaries' under-21s are due here in November in the Leasing.com Trophy.
TEAM NEWS
Josh Dacres-Cogley has returned to Birmingham for treatment on the ankle injury he sustained at Orient on Saturday, although he would have been cup-tied tonight anyway. Mason Bloomfield is not eligible under the terms of his loan agreement from Norwich and Joe McNerney is still out with a back problem.
Norwich manager Daniel Farke has said he will make changes. Christoph Zimmermann is expected to play his first game of the season following knee trouble and loan signings Patrick Roberts and Ibrahim Amadou, signed from Manchester City and Seville respectively, are likely to make their full debuts. Midfielder Josip Drmic and Grant Tettey are definitely out, according to Farke.
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION
Daniel Farke: "We are totally respectful for Crawley. We know we are the favourites but we don't take it as a given. You can always have surprises in the cup competitions. It's probably the most exciting game of their season. They will be highly motivated."
THE MATCH OFFICIALS
John Busby takes charge tonight. For more information on his past Crawley games click here
TICKETS
All seating in the Mayo Wynne Baxter and Structured Communcations East Stand have been sold but there are terrace tickets available.
For more information click here
HOW THEY BET*
Crawley win: 6/1
Draw: 18/5
Norwich win: 4/11
*Odds correct with EFL partners Sky Bet at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
COVERAGE
The game will be available for UK subscribers of iFollow from 7.40pm with live commentary from BBC Sussex & Surrey Sport's Gary Smith and Tony Vessey.
You must be a subscriber to listen (UK) to this service. You can subscribe here.
There will also be coverage across our social media channels throughout the game. @crawleytown on Twitter, Crawley Town FC on Facebook and officialcrawleytownfc on Instagram followed by post-match report and reaction.
COME ON YOU REDS!
