The Reds return to The People’s Pension Stadium this weekend as they take on Bradford City. Town remain unbeaten in their last four games having earned a point against last weeks opponents Forest Green Rovers. Our opponents currently sit in fourth position meaning the Reds face their third playoff hopeful in as many weeks.
SCENE SETTER:
The Reds will be looking to secure their first win in three having drawn their previous three fixtures 1-1. Crawley picked up another valuable point against high flying opposition last weekend having held Forest Green to a point. Bez Lubala scored his tenth league goal of the season just before the break but an unfortunate Jordan Tunnicliffe own goal meant Rovers left Crawley with a point.
Our opponents haven’t lost in their previous eight games which has seen them up to fourth place in the table. They too drew their previous fixture 1-1 having earned a point at league leaders Swindon. Jerry Yates opened the scoring for the leaders from the spot early on to put them on course for another three points. However Shay McCartan rescued a point for Bradford with a wonder free kick in the 89th minute.
TEAM NEWS:
Reece Grego-Cox, Joe McNerney & George Francomb all look set to miss out for John Yems' squad.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The game this Saturday will be the eighth meeting between the teams and to date Reds have won three and lost four.
Crawley did the double over the Bantams in the 2011-12 season with Reds winning 3-1 when the teams met for the first time in September 2011. Kyel Reid put the Bantams in front but second-half goals from Tyrone Barnett (2) and Andy Drury completed the turnaround.
The return fixture at Valley Parade in March 2012 is one of the most notorious in the club's Football League history. Leon Clarke, now a Premier League player with Sheffield United, and Gary Alexander scored either side of Chris Dagnall's equaliser at the Coral Windows Stadium to seal a 2-1 success but at the final whistle a mass brawl broke out and referee Iain Williamson sent off five players, including Reds' Pablo Mills and Claude Davis.
Kyle McFadzean was subsequently given a retrospective ban after the FA viewed video evidence. Six Crawley players were also booked.
Both teams won their respective home fixtures when we met again in the 2013-14 campaign. Emile Sinclair scored for Crawley in a 1-0 home victory and Bradford won 2-1 at Valley Parade despite a goal from Jamie Proctor.
Our game against Bradford in August 2014 ended in a 3-1 away win with Joe Walsh getting Crawley's consolation.
Reds lost the corresponding fixture this season 2-1 with Reece Grego-Cox scoring for Gabriele Cioffi's side.
IN CHARGE:
Referee: Neil Hair
Assistants: Nicholas Cooper and Dean Treleaven
Fourth Official: Gareth Viccars
TICKETS AND HOW TO BUY:
Click here for all your ticketing information for tomorrow's fixture.
HOW THEY BET:
A home win is marked as 19/10 a draw 11/5 and and away win 11/8
For more odds got to www.skybet.com please gamble responsibly.
