Two teams battling at opposite ends of the League One table will clash on Saturday afternoon as relegation-threatened Crawley Town host playoff-hopefuls Reading.
The hosts are 23rd in the table with 29 points from 34 matches, while the visitors are eighth in the standings with 54 points from their 34 league fixtures.
Match preview
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Crawley Town enjoyed a sensational 2023-24 campaign in League Two, surprisingly rising from 22nd in 2022-23 to finishing seventh and going on to win the playoffs, booking their return to League One for the first time since 2014-15.
However, the Red Devils have endured an extremely challenging return to the third division, currently placed 23rd in the standings with 29 points after 34 games, from seven wins, eight draws and 19 defeats.
They initially had a positive start to the season, winning their first four games across League One, the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy, but a run of 11 games without a victory followed.
Scott Lindsey also departed the club during that time, opting to move down a division to manage Milton Keynes Dons, with Rob Elliot swiftly taking charge of Crawley.
Elliot has been unable to turn Crawley's fortunes around since joining in October, winning just six of his 30 matches at the helm, alongside seven draws and 17 defeats.
That includes a three-game losing streak heading into this one, featuring a 4-1 defeat to Lincoln City last time out, leaving Crawley in desperate need of a victory, as they also trail safety by seven points.
The hosts will be major underdogs on Saturday, as their opponents, Reading, are coming into the encounter having avoided defeat in all of their last seven outings, while they are also in the race for a playoff place.
Reading currently place eighth in the League One table, boasting 54 points after 34 matches, from 15 wins, nine draws and 10 defeats, meaning they trail sixth-placed Huddersfield Town by four points.
Noel Hunt, who took charge in December after Ruben Selles left the club, did disappointingly see his side fall out of the playoff places after three successive defeats in late January, while four draws in their last seven has allowed for those above them to widen the gap.
Hunt will now be looking for his side to continue their unbeaten run with a victory over Crawley, with an eye on moving closer to the playoff places, and they should be confident given they secured a 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture in October.
Team News
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Crawley may be without Dion Conroy and Ade Adeyemo after the pair came off in the defeat to Lincoln City due to injuries, meaning Benjamin Tanimu and Antony Papadopoulos may start in their place.
Following the disappointing 4-1 defeat, Elliot may decide to make several other changes to the starting team, meaning the likes of Louie Watson and Gavan Holohan may start.
As for Reading, after recording their seventh successive match without a defeat, Hunt may opt to name an unchanged starting 11 to face Crawley on Saturday.
However, having failed to score in three of their last seven, Hunt could make changes to the starting attackers, meaning Adrian Akande and Kevin Ehibhatiomhan could start.
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Tanimu, Feely, Radcliffe, Papadopoulos; Quitirna, Barker, Watson, Holohan; Swan, John-Jules
Reading possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Rushesha, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia; Savage, Wing, Knibbs; Ehibhatiomhan, Wareham, Akande
We say: Crawley Town 0-2 Reading
Crawley are enduring a dismal run heading into this one, while Reading are undefeated in their last seven games, leading us to expect a comfortable victory for the visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
