Relegation-battling Crawley Town will host middling Peterborough United at The People’s Pension Stadium on Tuesday night for a League One encounter.
The hosts are 22nd in the league table, trailing safety by six points, while the visitors are 15th in the standings, nine points above relegation and 17 behind the playoff places.
Match preview
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After a nine-year stint in League Two, Crawley Town finally booked their return to the third division as they unexpectedly won the playoffs last year, but they have struggled to adapt to life back in League One.
The Red Devils are currently placed 22nd in the League One table with 36 points from 39 matches – after nine wins, nine draws and 21 defeats – leaving them six points adrift of safety.
Crawley started the campaign under the guidance of Scott Lindsey, who left the side in favour of joining MK Dons, while his replacement Rob Elliot was recently dismissed after taking just five league wins from 29 games, including a run of eight matches without a win leading up to his departure.
However, just six months after initially leaving, Lindsey was reappointed as Crawley’s manager, and his return has immediately boosted the team’s form, with the side securing victories in each of their last two matches.
Now aiming to build on those results (1-0 against Bristol Rovers and 4-0 against Rotherham United), Crawley will take on mid-table Peterborough United, where a win could be vital if they are to have any chance of survival.
The visitors have had a challenging 2024-25 campaign in comparison to their last two years in League One, having dropped from sixth and fourth-placed finishes in the last two seasons to currently placing 15th in the division.
The Posh have 45 points from their 38 league fixtures, after 12 wins, nine draws and 17 defeats, leaving them with a nine-point lead over relegation and trailing the playoff places by a significant 17 points.
While any chance of placing inside the top six is unlikely with only eight league games remaining, Darren Ferguson will be looking for his side to finish the season strongly and use that momentum as a foundation for next term.
Ferguson’s side had been enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run before losing 3-1 to Reading last time out, leaving the Posh aiming to bounce back with a victory in this one.
Team News
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Lindsey has guided Crawley to back-to-back victories in his first two matches since re-joining the club, and the manager is expected to name a similar starting 11 in this one.
Louie Watson and Harry Forster may both miss out due to injuries that they sustained in the 4-0 win over Rotherham Utd, meaning Panutche Camara may come into the starting team.
Elsewhere, Kami Doyle has scored three goals in Crawley’s last two fixtures, and the attacking midfielder is expected to start behind Rushian Hepburn-Murphy in the forward area.
As for Peterborough Utd, Kwame Poku and Malik Mothersille have been standout performers for the Posh this term, and both are expected to retain their places in attack.
Mahamadou Susoho may miss out after coming off injured in their last outing, meaning Ryan De Havilland could partner Archie Collins at the base of midfield.
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Barker, Mullarkey, Flint; Quitirna, Camara, Fraser, Ibrahim, Kelly; Doyle; Hepburn-Murphy
Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Steer; Dornelly, Fernandez, Hughes, Edun; De Havilland, Collins; Poku, Mothersille, Odoh; Jones
We say: Crawley Town 2-1 Peterborough United
While Crawley have endured a largely miserable campaign, they have been significantly improved since Lindsey’s return, and we believe they will continue their momentum with another win against Peterborough United on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
