Aiming to leave the relegation zone, Crawley Town welcome a Rotherham United side four places higher than them in the League One table in Saturday's gameweek 17 match at the Broadfield Stadium.
Rob Elliot's side are unbeaten in three, and extending that run could see them leave the bottom four places against an opponent keen to avoid three consecutive away losses.
Match preview
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Despite a rough start since Elliot replaced Scott Lindsey in October, Crawley's results are seemingly improving entering the final weeks of 2024.
The new Red Devils boss oversaw three league losses on the trot against Wycombe Wanderers (0-1), Shrewsbury Town (3-5) and Reading (1-4), but the tide seems to be turning.
Although the West Sussex side were defeated by Northampton Town 3-0 to close out October, the club have notched a 3-0 success against Lincoln City and secured draws against Burton Albion (0-0), Huddersfield Town (2-2) and Bristol Rovers (0-0).
Despite firing blanks in two of their last three league outings, the 21st-placed club will be pleased by securing two clean sheets in that period, taking them to three in the previous five League One games.
Crawley, whose only league shutout before the recent three came against Cambridge in mid-August, have tripled that number and aim to record a fourth at Rotherham's expense.
Success for the hosts will be their second home triumph in three games as hosts in the competition, potentially taking them above Leyton Orient or Wigan, who sit one point ahead in the standings.
![Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/steve-evans.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]")
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Rotherham hope to prevent that outcome this weekend, keen to avoid getting sucked into the relegation battle with November drawing to a close.
While Crawley have played one game more than the Millers, both sides are separated by four points entering this weekend's round, and defeat leaves Steve Evans's team looking over their shoulder.
Even though the form table shows that both sides have notched three points apiece in the previous four games, the away side have suffered three defeats to the hosts' zero, highlighting their ongoing struggles to avoid defeat.
With consecutive road losses at Leyton Orient (0-1) and Barnsley (0-2), the travelling support aim to avoid a third on the spin on Saturday, a League Two experience not suffered since January 2007 when they lost to Tranmere Rovers (1-2), Millwall (0-4) and Doncaster Rovers (2-3).
Team News
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Ryan Sandford (ankle) is a long-term absentee for Crawley, while Dion Conroy and Eddie Beach have been out injured since July and September, respectively.
Junior Quitirna, scorer of four goals for the Red Devils this term, aims to add to that tally for the relegation-threatened hosts.
Although Rotherham have no reported absentees heading into Saturday, Evans could make alterations to the side to avoid a third consecutive road reverse.
He hopes to count on the game-deciding expertise of Sam Nombe and Mallik Wilks, who seek to add to their three goals on Saturday.
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Mullarkey, Barker, Flint; Anderson, Ibrahim, Williams, Kelly; Quitirna, Darcy; Swan
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Rafferty, Humphreys, Jules, Bramall; Odoffin, Tiehi, Powell; Nombe, Wilks, Hungbo
We say: Crawley Town 1-1 Rotherham United
While Crawley hope to capitalise on Rotherham's recent losing run on their travels, the club with the third-worst home record may have to settle for a point when the Millers visit East Sussex this weekend.
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