Crewevs.Cheltenham

With just five matchweeks remaining, the home side are in ninth place with 61 points and are four points and two places from the final promotion playoff spot, while Cheltenham are in 16th place with 50 points and lost 2-0 against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

Match preview

The hosts were beaten 2-0 by first-placed Bradford City on April 5, conceding the first goal in the first minute and their second four minutes from time, but they would have drawn level had Ryan Cooney not missed his penalty shorty before the interval.

Crewe Alexandra have now failed to find the back of the net in three of their past four games, and their tally of 47 goals scored in League Two is the worst return amongst clubs in the top 14.

Grimsby Town are in seventh place and occupy the fourth promotion playoff spot, but given they still have to play second-placed Port Vale and fifth-placed AFC Wimbledon, there is a chance that they could drop points in the final five games of the season and be caught by Crewe.

Boss Lee Bell has struggled to turn his team's poor form around, with the club losing three, drawing three and winning just one of their last seven.

The Railwaymen have also disappointed at Mornflake Stadium considering they have suffered four defeats in their eight most recent home outings, achieving victory twice in that period.

Opponents Cheltenham were reduced to 10 men against Doncaster Rovers in the 56th minute when the score was 0-0, and they should be credited for holding out until the 89th minute.

The visitors have not scored in four consecutive games - conceding seven times - and they also failed to find the back of the net in two of their previous four.

Manager Michael Flynn oversaw a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture against Crewe on December 26, with the sides each winning twice in their past five encounters.

The Robins come into Thursday's clash having lost four consecutive games, and they were also beaten in two of their prior six, drawing on three occasions.

Cheltenham's away form is alarming given they have only triumphed in two of their 15 matches on the road, succumbing to defeat seven times.

Crewe Alexandra League Two form:

D

D

D

L

W

L

Cheltenham Town League Two form:

W

D

L

L

L

L

Team News

Crewe Alexandra midfielder Jack Lankester was forced off last time out due to injury, so perhaps his partner Tom Lowery will play beside Joel Tabiner against Cheltenham.

The duo could be stationed ahead of a back three featuring centre-backs Connor O'Riordan, Jamie Knight-Lebel and Mickey Demetriou.

Striker Omar Bogle was flanked by Christopher Long and Max Conway against Bradford City, and the trio may start once again on Thursday.

As for Cheltenham Town, Timothee Dieng will play no part against Crewe Alexandra due to his red card against Doncaster Rovers, and that makes Liam Kinsella and Harry Pell candidates to play in a double pivot.

Arkell Jude-Boyd, Sam Stubbs, Scot Bennett and Tom Bradbury may play in defence considering they started their side's most recent match.

Elsewhere, Jordan Thomas, Tommy Backwell and Ethon Archer could be tasked with supporting centre-forward George Miller.

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Marschall; O'Riordan, Knight-Lebel, Demetriou; Cooney, Tabiner, Lowery, Williams; Long, Conway; Bogle

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Day; Jude-Boyd, Stubbs, Bennett, Bradbury; Kinsella, Pell; Thomas, Backwell, Archer; Miller

We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Cheltenham Town

It is difficult to look past the fact the visitors have been frequently beaten in the past weeks without managing to score.

Written by

Lewis Nolan

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