SCENE SETTER
Tomorrow evening, the Reds are back on the road as we travel to Gloucestershire to take on high-flying Forest Green Rovers, hoping to continue our impressive unbeaten run which began in Wimbledon exactly one month ago. Due to the current government restrictions and guidelines, the match will be played without fans in attendance, but you can purchase an iFollow match pass here to view at home for a Tuesday night viewing.
FORM GUIDE
Both sides are in terrific form in the lead up to tomorrow night’s game. The hosts are undefeated in eight consecutive league games, winning four times against Southend United, Harrogate Town, Cambridge United and Carlisle, and drawing impressively at Exeter on Boxing Day, as well as ties against Port Vale, Newport County and Barrow.
Forest Green sit in second position, having scored 26 times in 20 games so far, 5 less goals than Crawley who have scored on 31 occasions. However, tomorrow’s opposition have only conceded 16 goals, 11 fewer than the Reds who have let 27 hit the back of the net since the season opener away at Port Vale in September.
Heading into tomorrow’s clash, the Reds will be confident following their impressive 1-1 draw with the league leaders, Newport County. Crawley were reduced to ten men after Tarryn Allarakhia was shown a red card early in the second-half, but some resilient defending from Jordan Tunnicliffe, Tony Craig, Tom Dallison and George Francomb, who returned to the side in the second-half following his injury, replacing Archie Davies.
THE HISTORY
Crawley have always found it difficult in Gloucestershire since Rovers were promoted from the National League. Each of our three visits to The New Lawn Stadium in League Two have ended in defeat, with the most recent coming last season in October as a Mason Bloomfield consolation meant the game finished 3-1 to the hosts, following a rampant early second-half performance for Forest Green.
The season before the Reds struggled to create many opportunities again, as a Reuben Reid goal was enough to sink Crawley 1-0, early on in a season that Forest Green were unlucky not to be promoted in.
It has been six football league games without a win for the Reds against The Green Army, but they will be more confident than ever following our recent run of impressive results in league and cup competitions.
THE OPPOSITION
Ebou Adams is a stand-out player within the squad, playing in midfield. The 24-year-old is agile and physical in the middle of the park, with the ability to run from box to box and create opportunities for the likes of Jamille Matt up top.
Matt, after joining from Newport County last season, has scored nine league goals so far this season, already surpassing his tally from his last campaign in Wales. The Jamaican is tall, strong and a huge threat in the air, and will be sure to test the likes of Tunnicliffe and Craig at the back for the Reds.
TEAM NEWS
Reece Grego-Cox remains unavailable for tomorrow’s game. Josh Doherty is a doubt but may feature.
HOW THEY BET
Forest Green Rovers - 10/11
Draw - 14/5
Crawley Town - 13/5
COVERAGE
The match will be streamed live on iFollow as you can hear from John Barnett and Ken Blackmore from 6:55.
