A crucial battle at the bottom of League Two takes place on Saturday, as Crawley Town take on rock-bottom Rochdale at the Broadfield Stadium.
While the sides are separated by just two places, the hosts hold both a seven-point advantage and a game in hand on their relegation rivals, who were involved in an eight-goal thriller last weekend.
Match preview
© Reuters
Helping Crawley compile their seventh point from the last nine available, substitute Rafiq Khaleel saved the relegation-threatened side with a late strike last time out, as they held Doncaster Rovers to a 1-1 draw.
The Reds were finally rewarded for their industry in the 82nd minute, when Khaleel equalised with this first goal for the club; leaving them two points above second-bottom Hartlepool - and, perhaps crucially, still with a game in hand on all the teams around them.
Manager Scott Lindsey will be acutely aware that there remains a long way to go before his side have definitively steered themselves clear of the drop zone, but recent results suggest they are up for the fight.
Beating Harrogate and Wimbledon prior to their late rally last week certainly takes Crawley into the final 10 fixtures of their League Two campaign with their destiny still in their own hands.
Having previously lost six straight matches to drop down the table, they may still be dicing with demotion from the Football League, but their predicament is at least less concerning than that of Saturday's opponents.
© Reuters
A remarkable helter-skelter ride at home to Swindon Town last week saw Rochdale add just a point to their tally despite finding the net on no less than four occasions - including in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Charlie Austin's four-goal haul denied Dale a much-needed win at Spotland, but they did manage to salvage a draw by virtue of Ian Henderson's headed finish from Liam Kelly's corner.
Manager Jim Bentley was relieved and frustrated in equal measure following the match, but as his side have now lost just one of their last four League Two fixtures, there appears to be a flicker of light at the end of a very long tunnel.
Still seven points adrift of safety with games fast running out, Rochdale face a virtually must-win contest on Saturday, when victory would pull them closer to Crawley, who occupy the first position of safety.
The teams played out a 1-1 draw in August's reverse fixture, but nothing less than three points will do for Bentley's men this weekend.
Team News
To boost their options in midfield, Crawley brought in Anthony Grant this week, on a deal until the end of the season. The 35-year-old Jamaica international worked with Scott Lindsey at Swindon Town and should be available for selection on Saturday.
While the former Scunthorpe man is unlikely to start, Jordon Mutch could be back in the Reds' squad following injury, and Rafiq Khaleel will hope his goal in the draw with Doncaster can earn him a start.
Versatile forward Aramide Oteh has scored three times in Crawley's last three home matches and should line up on the hosts' left wing.
Rochdale, meanwhile, often field a 3-5-2 formation with Devante Rodney and Scott Quigley up front, though veteran striker Ian Henderson made a major impact after replacing the latter against Swindon and will also vie for a start.
Rodney came off injured last week, to be replaced by D'Mani Mellor, and is therefore a doubt for the visitors, who have scored only three goals in their last five away games.
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Addai; Johnson, Conroy, Lynch, Ogungbo; Tilley, Powell, Gladwin, Oteh; Telford, Nadesan
Rochdale possible starting lineup:
O'Donnell; Taylor, Ebanks-Landell, Mullarkey; Odoh, Keohane, Brierley, Lloyd, Dodgson; Quigley, Mellor
We say: Crawley Town 2-1 Rochdale
Effectively consigning their visitors to the drop, Crawley can pull 10 points clear of Rochdale with a win and are likely to do so. Despite their last-gasp heroics last time out, Dale are too vulnerable defensively and rarely do well on the road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
