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

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 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:

D

W

L

L

L

D

Grimsby Town League Two form:

L

W

L

L

W

L

Grimsby Town form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

W

L

Team News

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

We say: Crawley Town 1-1 Grimsby Town

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