SCENE SETTER
The Reds are back on home soil this afternoon as we take on Colchester United at The People’s Pension Stadium, almost three months after the reverse fixture in a game we drew 1-1 in Essex.
FORM GUIDE
The Reds have recently struggled for results since our incredible unbeaten run, picking up one point from a possible twelve in our last four fixtures. Two 3-1 losses to Cambridge United and Harrogate Town and a goalless draw with Leyton Orient were disappointing but the men in red will be determined to get back to winning ways later today, after losing out to Stevenage by a goal to nil on Tuesday night, despite controlling possession and having four efforts on target.
Colchester are also in a difficult stage, with no win in their last eleven league games, earning six draws and five losses, including defeats to Southend United and Scunthorpe.
The U’s have dropped to 18th in the league table and are struggling for goals as of late, but with the arrival of Frank Nouble, who scored in their last game against Mansfield Town, will hope to contribute for the remainder of the season.
THE HISTORY
Crawley have faced Colchester United on many occasions in recent history, including three fixtures last season, with one in the Round of 16 in the Carabao Cup when we lost out 1-3, after Dannie Bulman gave us an early lead with an incredible long-range strike.
In our last sixteen clashes with the U’s, Crawley have been victorious seven times, with five home victories. Both teams have scored in our last four meetings. Within those sixteen games, Crawley have only failed to score twice.
THE OPPOSITION
Frank Nouble has returned to Essex following a spell in League One with Plymouth Argyle. The powerful forward will hope to bring Colchester some goals in attack supporting the likes of Jevani Brown up top.
Brown has 7 goals in 24 league appearances for the home side, netting hat-tricks against Stevenage and Southend in the EFL Trophy, as well as a home brace against Leyton Orient, in a week where he scored eight times within the space of fourteen days in November.
As well as Brown, wingers Courtney Senior and Callum Harriott express rapid pace from wide positions, as Reds fans will remember a spectacular strike scored by Harriott in the reverse fixture, where he chopped inside before unleashing a rocket which sailed past a helpless Morris.
TEAM NEWS
Reece Grego-Cox and Henry Burnett remain unavailable for tomorrow’s game.
HOW THEY BET*
Crawley Town 21/20
Draw 12/5
Colchester United 12/5
*Odds correct with EFL partners Sky Bet at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
COVERAGE
You can watch the match live on iFollow from 14:50 with coverage from Gary Smith.
You can purchase a match pass for £10 by clicking here.
