MX23RW : Friday, December 13 18:50:44| >> :120:42079:42079:

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

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's League Two clash between Crawley Town and Grimsby Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Relegation-threatened Crawley Town welcome Grimsby Town to Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Scott Lindsey's side find themselves sitting precariously above the National League trapdoor, while The Mariners are only five positions above their midweek hosts but are still equidistant between the playoff positions and the relegation zone.


Match preview

Crawley Town's Dom Telford celebrates scoring their first goal with Aramide Oteh on November 8, 2022© Reuters

Crawley Town are at risk of plying their footballing trade outside of the Football League for the first time since 2011.

Lindsey's side occupy 21st position in the standings after emerging victorious in only five matches across a disheartening 24-game sequence across the current English fourth tier campaign.

Last in action on January 2 at Newport County, The Red Devils were crucially denied all three points when second-half substitute Offrande Zanzala equalised for the hosts in the 92nd minute.

Crawley Town were scheduled to take on Doncaster Rovers on January 14, however, the pitch at the Broadfield Stadium was ultimately deemed unplayable after a deluge of rain hit West Sussex in the days leading up to the match.

Unfortunately, things did not get better when the arctic-esque temperatures that have caused havoc across this weekend's football schedule accounted for Lindsey's side's game against Sutton Town on Saturday.

In pursuit of their first league victory since the beginning of December, Crawley Town will hope that they can conclude this unwanted narrative at 10pm on Tuesday.

Promoted back to the Football League after beating Solihull Moors 2-1 in last season's National League playoff final at the London Stadium in May 2022, Grimsby Town have experienced a recent slump in form despite picking up 15 points in their opening 10 matches.

Winless away from home since the middle of October, Paul Hurst's side have lost their last four league matches on the road but have still picked up 16 points from a possible 36 on offer.

Faring no better than Tuesday night's hosts against the unpredictable force known as mother nature, The Mariners witnessed their weekend match against Harrogate Town forcibly rearranged for later in the season following the discovery of a frozen pitch at Blundell Park.

Before their postponement, Hurst's side were comprehensively swept aside by playoff candidates Swindon Town at the County Ground, with the hosts putting in a five-star showcase in front of goal.

Unbeaten in their last three encounters between the two sides, the visitors will take their seat on the coach to West Sussex confident of extending their one-sided recent head-to-head record.

Crawley Town League Two form:

Grimsby Town League Two form:


Grimsby Town form (all competitions):



Team News

Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst before the match on August 23, 2022© Reuters

Crawley Town manager Scott Lindsey will be forced into at least one alteration from the starting XI that began the match against Newport County, with on-loan midfielder James Balagizi returning to parent club Liverpool after picking up a potential long-term injury.

In the absence of the aforementioned Balagizi, Lindsey could restore regular midfielder starter Jack Powell to the hosts' side from kickoff.

On the back of a brace against Newport County, striker Dom Telford is primed to spearhead The Red Devils' attacking line again alongside Aston Villa loanee Caleb Chukwuemeka.

Grimsby Town will be without Danny Amos following the defender's red card in the opening 45 minutes against Swindon Town. In Amos's enforced absence, Anthony Driscoll-Glennon should come into The Mariners' defence alongside Michee Efete, Andrew Smith and Niall Maher.

After coming off the substitutes' bench last weekend, striker Danilo Orsi-Dadomo and midfielder Bryn Morris could also join Driscoll-Glennon in The Mariners' starting lineup.

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Balcombe; Ransom, Francillette, Tsaroulla; Mason, Powell, Jenks, Oteh; Chukwuemeka, Telford

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Efete, Smith, Maher, Driscoll-Glennon; Clifton, Morris, Holohan, Khan; McAtee, Orsi-Dadomo


SM words green background

We say: Crawley Town 1-1 Grimsby Town

In pursuit of their first away victory in over two months, we predict that Grimsby Town will have to wait a little longer for that elusive success, with both sides cancelling each other out in a closely-contested affair at Broadfield Stadium.

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


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:curl

ID:504834:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12107:
Written by
Chris Heath

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Crawley vs Grimsby Town

Crawley Town
45.7%
Draw
17.1%
Grimsby Town
37.1%
35
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Burnley manager Sean Dyche pictured in February 2021
Read Next:
Sean Dyche reveals Bournemouth staff member alerted him to Erik Pieters error
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe18124239211840
2Wrexham19124328111740
3Birmingham CityBirmingham17123232161639
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield18112528161235
5Stockport CountyStockport1996431191233
6Reading189453025531
7Bolton WanderersBolton179352827130
8Barnsley197662725227
9Lincoln CityLincoln197662423127
10Mansfield TownMansfield177372222024
11Exeter CityExeter187381619-324
12Charlton AthleticCharlton186571819-123
13Blackpool186572631-523
14Stevenage176471316-322
15Peterborough UnitedPeterborough186393332121
16Leyton Orient186391920-121
17Northampton TownNorthampton195682126-521
18Bristol Rovers186391726-921
19Wigan AthleticWigan185581516-120
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham175571620-420
21Crawley TownCrawley185491728-1119
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge1844101829-1116
23Burton Albion1825111630-1411
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1832131835-1711


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!