SCENE SETTER
Reds look to improve on a run of just one win in their last 11 league and cup games when we take on Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium, kick off 3pm. We start the game 17th in League 2, level on points with Cambridge who are 13th by dint of a better goal difference.
THE FORM GUIDE
Reds have only won twice in their last nine League games, although they have only lost three times away from home. After losing three in a row at home, Cambridge are unbeaten in three in front of their own fans with two draws and an eye-catching 4-0 win over leaders Exeter City.
HEAD TO HEAD
Our Football League record against Cambridge has dipped after we won our first two against the U’s in the 2015/16 season. Back in our non-league days, games between the two sides were often close affairs, but in the 20 meetings in our history there have been just four draws.
Our first meeting as a Football League club came in the Checkatrade Trophy at the Broadfield Stadium, when an own goal from Ryan Tait and Charles Banya's strike sealed a 2-0 win in 2014.
Under Mark Yates, and looking for our first win of the season, the Reds travelled to the Abbey Stadium for the first League encounter in August 2015 and triumphed 3-0 with two goals from Roarie Deacon and one by Gwion Edwards.
The return fixture the following January saw Matt Harrold score the only goal as the Reds completed the double with a 1-0 win.
That was our last win against the U’s until this season, as Cambridge won the next four meetings. The first of those four came in November 2016, as Cambridge picked up a 3-1 win at the Broadfield. James Collins had given us the lead inside the opening ten minutes but, before the half hour, United scored twice through Uche Ikpeazu and Greg Taylor. In the second half Luke Berry added a third.
Berry was on the scoresheet again alongside Scott Wharton as the hosts sealed a 2-0 win. Josh Payne was sent off in the final minute to compound Reds' misery.
In 2017-18 it was another double for the U’s as they secured a 1-0 win at The People's Pension Stadium thanks to Jabo Ibehre’s second-half strike. Inside 25 minutes at the Abbey Stadium, Cambridge were 2-0 up with goals from George Maris and Ibehre. Payne pulled a goal back from the penalty just minutes into the second half but Jevani Brown restored the home side’s two-goal advantage minutes later to seal a 3-1 win for the hosts.
Last season goals from Luke Gambin and Ollie Palmer gained us a 2-0 home win but Cambridge triumphed 2-1 on Boxing Day despite Dominic Poleon putting Crawley in front.
ONE TO WATCH
Sam Smith is Cambridge's top scorer with four goals. The 21-year-old is at the Abbey on loan from Championship club Reading for the season. It could have been five for the Manchester-born striker but he had a penalty saved in the last minute of their most recent home match, a goalless draw against Cambridge United.
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION
Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood: “It’s a difficult game actually. Their start to the season was sprightly, and their performance during midweek was very good for a period and probably hampered by losing the equaliser straight after scoring a super goal.
“But in the opening part of the game you could see their brightness and the energy they’ve got. We are going to have to be good. Good defensive organisation will be a key to the game for us, and trying to make them defend against us."
THE MATCH OFFICIALS
Nick Kinseley has probably refereed more Reds games than anyone else during our time in the League. Saturday's will be his 15th Crawley appointment. He refereed us twice last season - the 3-2 home defeat to Carlisle United in December and a 0-0 draw at Northampton in February.
This season he has shown 28 yellow and four red cards in 29 games.
Paul Graham and Oliver Jackson will be his assistants, the fourth official is Stephen Finch.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased from the club until 3.30pm on Friday after which you have to buy tomorrow at the Abbey Stadium.
They will go off sale from the club at 3.30pm on Friday November 1. You can buy on the day at Cambridge.
Prices (South Stand, allocation 278): Adults £20; Concessions (over-64s, 18-23, students): £15; Under-18s £10; Under-12s £5; Under-5s: Free.
Disabled tickets: Ambulant disabled pay relevant concession price plus carer free of charge; Wheelchair users pay £15 plus carer free of charge. Please call 01223 566500 to book.
HOW THEY BET*
Crawley win: 5/2
Draw: 9/4
Cambridge win: 21/20
*Odds correct with EFL partners Sky Bet at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
COVERAGE
There will be live commentary from BBC Sussex & Surrey Sport's Gary Smith and Ken Blackmore from 2.55pm. 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!
