SCENE SETTER
Reds will be looking to win their final game of the season for the first time since 2012, when a 1-0 victory at Accrington Stanley sealed promotion to League One. Only a second home win since Jan. 5 could lift us as high as 17th in the final standings, depending on Grimsby and Morecambe's results.
Tranmere have booked their place in the play-offs after drawing 1-1 against promoted Bury on Tuesday. It's almost certain they will play Forest Green Rovers in the play-offs.
THE FORM GUIDE
Last week's defeat at Carlisle was Reds' first defeat in four. Tranmere have won one of their last six. They are fifth in the away form guide but since winning three in a row they have drawn at Newport and Lincoln and lost to Oldham in their last three on the road.
THE HISTORY
Reds will be looking to avenge last October’s 5-1 defeat at Prenton Park when Ollie Palmer got our consolation in the second half in what will be our sixth League game against Rovers.
Rovers were the runaway League One leaders the first time the two sides played each other here in September 2012.
Just two minutes had elapsed when Danny Holmes put the visitors ahead but before 15 minutes had been played the Reds were 2-1 ahead thanks to goals from Josh Simpson and Kyle McFadzean.
Jake Cassidy levelled the scores before half-time but Rovers ran riot in the second half with Cassidy bagging his second after Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro had put Tranmere ahead. Andy Robinson made it 5-2 in stoppage time.
The return fixture also ended in victory for Tranmere when Zoumana Bakayogo and David Amoo scored a goal each in a 2-0 win in January 2013 on our first visit to Prenton Park.
Seven months later we fought out a 3-3 draw on the Wirral.
Joe Walsh headed the Reds in front after just ten minutes but Tranmere led 2-1 at the break thanks to a brace from Joe Thompson. Billy Clarke equalised midway through the second half and Walsh bagged himself a second goal ten minutes from the end. Town were cruelly denied victory in second-half stoppage time when Ryan Lowe – now Bury manager - made it 3-3.
Our first win over Tranmere came the last time we played them here back in April 2014 when Gwion Edwards and Matt Tubbs scored in a 2-0 win, one of three victories in six days that eased us away from the League One relegation zone while Rovers were relegated.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Tranmere boss Micky Mellon insists his side won't ease up even though they are already confirmed in the play-offs. Speaking after the 1-1 draw against Bury ended their hopes of automatic promotion, he said: “Now we know what the route is for us. We try and win every game and today will be no different. We will prepare properly and give a performance that represents what this club is all about. And at the end of it all we will know what the play-off challenge is. There is no doom and gloom, to go to the 45th game with a chance of automatic promotion is unbelievable.”
TEAM NEWS
Reds are without Dannie Bulman but Jimmy Smith could be back in the squad after missing the last eight months following knee surgery.
THE MATCH OFFICIALS
Andy Haines is in charge on Saturday. Find out more about his previous Crawley appointments here
HOW THEY BET*
Crawley win: 3/1
Draw: 11/5
Tranmere win: 19/20
*Odds correct with EFL partners Sky Bet at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are on sale until 4.30pm on Friday from the Box Office, which reopens at 10am on matchday.
Click here for more information.
COVERAGE
The game will be available for UK subscribers of iFollow from 2.55pm 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. Overseas users can also watch the action live.
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 followed by post-match reaction and a match report.
COME ON YOU REDS!
