A look ahead to our seventh League meeting with Argyle
SCENE SETTER
Plymouth Argyle, relegated from League One last season, head to The People's Pension Stadium for the first time since April 2017 tonight, kick off 7.45pm.
Tonight's match sponsors are KR-L.
THE FORM GUIDE
Reds have only lost once in league and cup since the opening day of the season and extended their unbeaten run to five games last Saturday when Bez Lubala scored his seventh goal of the season in a 1-0 home win over Mansfield.
Argyle hit the ground running after relegation. Two goals from Callum McFadzean, one of their ex-Bury contingent, sealed a 3-0 opening day win at Crewe, a result which looks even more impressive now given Alex’s subsequent form.
Since then, though, they have lacked consistency, especially on their travels. They lost 1-0 at Newport County, 3-1 at Northampton and 1-0 to Port Vale last Saturday. Traditionally strong at home, Plymouth have yet to be beaten in the League at Home Park, although they had to settle for 2-2 draws against Salford and Oldham, having beaten Colchester and Walsall.
After beating Leyton Orient 2-0, their Carabao Cup run ended with a 4-2 home defeat to Reading.
PAST MEETINGS
Argyle did the double over Reds during the 2016-17 season on their way to promotion in our last meetings with the Green Army.
They won 2-0 at Home Park on New Year’s Eve then came from behind in April 2017 to win 2-1 after Dean Cox had put Crawley in front. Graham Carey levelled from the penalty spot before Ryan Taylor scored a stoppage-time winner.
That was the last of six Football League meetings between the clubs and Reds have only been successful once.
That was a 2-0 triumph in October 2011 with both goals from Matt Tubbs (pictured scoring his second), which was also in League 2 and was our first meeting against the Pilgrims.
We drew the return fixture in January 2012 1-1 thanks to a goal from Pablo Mills and also shared the spoils in a 1-1 home draw in February 2016 when Shamir Fenelon scored our late equaliser.
Earlier that season we had lost 2-1 at Home Park under Mark Yates in October 2015.
Roarie Deacon looked to have secured a point when he equalised in the 85th minute but ex-Reds loanee Hiran Boateng won it for the hosts four minutes from time.
TEAM NEWS
Joe McNerney and Ashley Nadesan, who will be out for 3-4 weeks with an ankle injury sustained two weeks ago against Portsmouth, miss out while Tom Dallison, absent on Saturday, faces a fitness test on his sore ankle.
Argyle boss Ryan Lowe may shake things up after Saturday's loss at Vale Park. “I’m responsible, I pick the team and there will be lads knocking on my door wanting it [to play]," he said. There could be a debut for fit-again summer signing Will Aimson.
VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION
Bury boss Ryan Lowe told the club's website:
“Crawley are doing fantastic. Their manager has gone in and cleared out a lot of players, so we know it’s another tough place. It will a number of hours on the road again for us.
“Crawley, we know, will be a tough ask but we’re going there to win.”
THE MATCH OFFICIALS
David Rock takes charge of only his sixth EFL game tomorrow, having been appointed to the League list in the summer.
In five games so far this season he has shown 14 yellow and one red cards.
He will be assisted by Andrew Aylott and Matt Lee. The fourth official is Mike Desborough.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale for all areas of the stadium. More information here
HOW THEY BET*
Crawley win: 13/8
Draw: 12/5
Plymouth win: 6/4
*Odds correct with EFL partners Sky Bet at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
COVERAGE
The game will be available to watch live for just £10 from 7.40pm with live commentary from BBC Sussex & Surrey Sport's Gary Smith and Tony Vessey.
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!
