Preview: Crawley Town vs. Cambridge United - prediction, team news, lineups

In a crucial match in League One's fight for survival, Crawley Town will host bottom-of-the-table Cambridge United at Broadfield Stadium on Saturday.

The Red Devils will be desperate to avoid back-to-back defeats, while the U's will be hoping to continue strongly under their new boss.

Match preview

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Rob Elliot's Crawley are 22nd in the third tier and five points from safety, though they have lost just one of their last four matches and are not without hope.

That being said, rivals Burton Albion have been in strong form in 2025 and have surged up the table in recent weeks, leaving the Red Devils three points behind them with 14 games to play.

With the pressure mounting for Elliot's side to put points on the board, they will see this weekend's clash as the perfect opportunity to gain ground given they face the division's bottom club, though their recent record suggests that they may struggle to make the most of their chance.

Last time out, Elliot's side were beaten 3-1 on the road to Blackpool, and the boss will be particularly disappointed with that result considering that the Seasiders played more than an hour of the match with 10 men.

Additionally, while Saturday's hosts have only tasted defeat once at Broadfield Stadium in 2025, they have also won just once at home since November, and will know that a draw against the relegation favourites will be two points dropped rather than one gained.

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Meanwhile, Neil Harris's Cambridge may be at the foot of the table, but the returning chief won his first game back in charge and the new manager bounce could turn their season around if they can channel that result into this weekend's clash.

Last time out, the U's shockingly beat promotion-chasing Stockport County 2-0 thanks to a first-half brace from Josh Stokes, and impressively held out to record their first clean sheet since late November.

That triumph left Harris's side eight points behind 20th-placed Peterborough United, though another win against Crawley could close the gap to safety to a more surmountable five points.

However, given that Saturday's visitors have not won a league game away from the Cledara Abbey Stadium since October, the chances of taking maximum points this time around seem slim.

In the reverse fixture, Garry Monk's Cambridge were beaten 1-0 back in August, but with their former manager Harris in the dugout, fans will be hoping that they can earn consecutive wins for the first time in four months this weekend.

Team News

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After his side failed to make the most of their man advantage against Blackpool, Crawley manager Elliot could look to bring in Junior Quitirna to start alongside Rushian Hepburn-Murphy up front.

In the middle third, Kami Doyle was on the scoresheet last time out, and he should continue in midfield alongside Liam Fraser and Max Anderson, who assisted Doyle against the Seasiders.

As for Cambridge, captain Michael Morrison and Kelland Watts will be trusted to protect Nathan Bishop between the sticks once again, flanked by Liam Bennett and James Gibbons at full-back.

Further forward, attacking midfielder Josh Stokes will be looking to build on his two goals last time out by earning his team an important three points, and the 20-year-old should start behind striker Ryan Loft on Saturday.

Crawley Town possible starting lineup: Wollacott; Radcliffe, Conroy, Barker; Forster, Doyle, Fraser, Anderson, Swan; Quitirna, Hepburn-Murphy

Cambridge United possible starting lineup: Bishop; Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Gibbons; Cousins, Digby; Kachunga, Stokes, Brophy; Loft

We say: Crawley Town 1-1 Cambridge United

Crawley have done well to avoid defeat more often than not in recent weeks, but feeling the pressure to make up ground on Peterborough and Burton, they will be desperate to take all three points.

That being said, Cambridge won their first game under Harris, and his fresh ideas could see them pick up a share of the spoils on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.