Crawleyvs.Grimsby Town

The hosts will rely on other teams dropping points this weekend to give them a chance, but they must win to capitalise on any possibilities.

Match preview

Crawley have given themselves a chance to be in the League Two playoffs this season, placing plenty of pressure on the curtain closer on Saturday.

With Barrow sitting one point ahead of them in seventh place, the Red Devils will require them to slip up on Saturday. However, they are also three points behind

Crewe Alexandra and Doncaster Rovers, meaning there are several results fans will be keeping an eye on.

Of course, if either of those teams were to lose on Saturday, it would come down to goal difference, but considering their recent form, Scott Lindsey's men will simply focus on their performance first and foremost.

Crawley have failed to win in any of their previous four matches, dropping down the table at the most crucial point of the season, taking the situation out of their control.

Klaidi Lolos did rescue a point for his team during their most recent outing, though, as he scored a 91st-minute equaliser against Sutton United, ensuring that the club still had a fighting chance for a playoff spot.

While the visitors will be out to play spoiler this weekend, Grimsby will simply feel relief because they are mathematically safe from relegation.

They are at the opposite end of the table to their opponents this weekend, currently sitting 21st, but the eight-point gap between them and the bottom two means they can go into this game with some freedom.

The lack of pressure could lead to a stronger performance from Grimsby, which the hosts will be wary of, mainly because David Artell's men are currently in good form.

The Mariners have only lost twice in their previous six outings, securing three victories in that period. All of those wins also featured clean sheets, showcasing the squad's defensive improvements.

Grimsby picked up a 2-0 win in their most recent outing against Swindon Town with goals from Liam Smith and Donovan Wilson, and the confidence that the team is showcasing could lead to them pulling off a surprise result this weekend.

Crawley Town League Two form:

W

W

L

L

D

D

Grimsby Town League Two form:

D

W

L

W

L

W

Team News

Crawley boasts a fit squad, which gives Lindsey a lot to consider when choosing his starting XI this weekend.

Kelly will likely retain his spot in the middle of the pitch, providing the box-to-box energy to potentially carry the team to a playoff spot.

Artell made a trio of changes to his starting lineup last weekend as Niall Maher, Harry Wood and Gavan Holohan were all brought into the team, and after a positive result, they might end up keeping their places.

Anthony Glennon has been back in training for the Mariners and should be in contention this weekend, but the match might come too soon in Arthur Gnahoua's road to recovery.

Danny Rose will also not be available as his season ended after suffering an injury against Crewe that has ruled him out.

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:

Addai; Wright, Conroy, Maguire; Forster, Darcy, Williams, Kelly, Tsaroulla; Orsi, Lolos

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:

Eastwood; Smith, Mullarkey, Rodgers, Maher; Thompson, Holohan, Green, Wood, Vernam; Wilson

We say: Crawley Town 2-1 Grimsby Town

Considering how much is on the line for Crawley this weekend it is hard to imagine them slipping up and dropping any points here, which is why they should get the win.

However, the recent form of both teams will certainly make this a trickier game than the hosts would like.

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