Crawley Town, aiming to distance themselves from the ongoing relegation battle, are set to travel to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic in League One on Tuesday evening.
The hosts are 12th in the league with 22 points from 16 games, while the visitors are in 20th place with 16 points from 17 games, leaving them just one point above the drop zone.
Match preview
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Since suffering relegation from the Championship in 2019-20, Charlton Athletic have endured a difficult number of years back in the third tier of English football.
They narrowly missed out on the playoff places in their first campaign back in League One, placing seventh and only missing out on goal difference after finishing level on 74 points with sixth-placed Oxford United.
Charlton have struggled to mount a serious playoff challenge in the following three seasons, finishing 13th in 2021-22, 10th in 2022-23, and most recently, 16th in the table last year.
Nathan Jones, who has been in charge since February 2024, would have been aiming to lead Charlton to a promotion push this campaign, and his side currently sit 12th in the standings after 16 matches.
Charlton have earned six wins, four draws, and six losses in their 16 league matches, leaving them with 22 points and five points adrift of the playoff spots, a gap they will look to narrow with a victory in this match.
As for the visitors, Crawley Town secured a long-awaited return to the third tier of English football last season, earning promotion for the first time since their relegation in 2014-15 by finishing seventh and then winning the playoffs.
Their playoff finish came as a major surprise given the Red Devils had placed 22nd the season prior, narrowly avoiding relegation by just three points, and they superbly defeated MK Dons 8-1 on aggregate in the semi-final before beating Crewe Alexandra 2-0 in the final.
They initially had a positive opening upon their return to League One under Scott Lindsey, winning their first four games across all competitions, but their form quickly slipped in the following outings.
Crawley failed to win any of their next five, losing four and drawing one, with Lindsey then adding to their misery as he agreed a deal to become MK Dons manager.
Their poor form continued under the new manager as they lost the following six, but Rob Elliott finally secured his first points with a win against Lincoln City, and they have looked improved ever since.
Elliott's men have won two, drawn three and lost three of their last eight games across all competitions, leaving them in significantly better form heading into this one.
A win could be crucial in Crawley's survival hopes, with them coming into this game sitting one point above the drop zone with 16 points, though they have played one game more than those below them.
Team News
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Heading into this game having enjoyed back-to-back victories in their last outings, Jones could opt to name a similar starting 11 in this one.
Matt Godden and Gassan Ahadme are likely to start in attack given they scored in the last game, while Miles Leaburn could come back into the side having missed out in their past match.
As for the visitors, on the back of four consecutive matches without defeat in the league, their longest run this season, Elliott could name a similar team here.
Junior Quitirna is Crawley's top scorer with four goals in the league this campaign, but the attacker has been absent since the end of October, meaning an attack of Will Swan and Tola Showunmi could start here.
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Brewer; Edmonds-Green, Mitchell, Gillesphey, Edwards; Anderson, Coventry, Berry; Godden; Leaburn, Ahadme
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Beach; Mullarkey, Mukena, Barker; Adeyemo, Camara, Anderson, Kelly; Swan, Roles; Showunmi
We say: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Crawley Town
The visitors may be coming into this game on their best run of form in the league this term, but the hosts have lost just one league match at home this season, and we believe their strong home record will continue with a win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
