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Crawleyvs.Doncaster

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 March 2024, 18:51
Crawley Town will be hoping to maintain their place in League Two's play-off spots when they host Doncaster Rovers on Good Friday.

Doncaster, meanwhile, have moved away from relegation danger with three straight victories in recent weeks.

Match preview

Crawley's form roughly matches their forthcoming opponents, having taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four league outings. After claiming a highly respectable 1-1 draw against Stockport County, the Red Devils won 3-1 away to Tranmere Rovers last weekend.

Goals from Jeremy Kelly, Jay Williams and Danilo Orsi helped their side make it four wins from five on the road, more importantly leapfrogging AFC Wimbledon into the seventh and final play-off spot heading into the final portion of the league campaign.

Scott Lindsey has worked miracles since saving Crawley from relegation after taking over as manager in January 2023, with his side billed as one of the main favourites to fall out of the Football League before a ball was kicked this season. Now they are on the cusp of returning to the third tier for the first time since 2015.

Gillingham and Wimbledon - who are eighth and ninth respectively prior to any Easter matches - have both played two more games than Crawley, suggesting Lindsey and his players are in pole position to be involved in post-regular season action.

Doncaster, on the other hand, are sailing towards a mid-table position having steered themselves away from trouble with an improved run of form since the start of February.

Grant McCann's side were lingering perilously close to the relegation zone before winning six and drawing three of their last 10 matches, with only Walsall getting the better of Rovers during that run of games.

Doncaster made it four successive victories on home soil at the Eco-Power Stadium when overpowering relegation-threatened Forest Green Rovers 2-0 last weekend.

The visitors did not manage a single shot on target across the course of the encounter, with Luke Molyneux breaking the deadlock moments after the hour mark, before Richard Keogh's late own goal sealed all three points for his opponents.

10 points separate McCann's side and Crawley inside the play-off zone, suggesting Doncaster have almost certainly left it too late to mount a charge for promotion. However, they are certainly showing plenty of positive signs to build on for next season under the former Peterborough United boss.

Crawley Town League Two form:

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Doncaster Rovers League Two form:

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Team News

Crawley may name an unchanged starting XI having beaten Tranmere last time out, with Klaidi Lolos hoping to get back on the scoresheet after scoring in each of his previous three appearances.

The likes of Ade Adeyemo and Adam Campbell provide excellent options from the bench for Lindsey to turn to should they be required at any stage, which is certainly a possibility given Doncaster's strong form of late.

Indeed, McCann may see no reason to make any alterations to his side either after dominating Forest Green from start to finish in their last match, although George Broadbent may be hoping to nudge his way into his manager's plans.

Joe Ironside will almost certainly lead the visitors' line once again after returning from the outset, with the former Cambridge United striker's tireless work providing an excellent focal point for those in close support.

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:

Addai; Wright, Mukena, Maguire; Gordon, Williams, Lolos, Forster; Darcy, Orsi, Kelly

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Lo-Tutala; Sterry, Anderson, Wood, Maxwell; Bailey, Biggins, Craig; Molyneux, Ironside, Adelakun

We say: Crawley Town 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

No team in League Two has accrued as many points (13) as these two sides in their past six matches, meaning we expect to see a high-quality encounter play out at the Broadfield Stadium on Friday.

Crawley's form has actually been stronger away from home than at home of late, meaning we can envisage the visitors nicking a point to maintain their unbeaten run.

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