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

Having lost both home and away fixtures between the teams last season, the Red Devils will head into the game looking to get one over the visiting side and return to winning ways.

Match preview

Crawley Town continue to struggle for form in the League Two as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Hartlepool United two Fridays ago.

Following a goalless first half, the game sparked to life four minutes after the hour mark when Rollin Menayese broke the deadlock before Travis Johnson netted an 81st-minute own goal to put the result beyond reach.

Crawley Town are now winless in three of their most recent four league games — picking up four points from a possible 12 — while they have managed just two victories in their last nine outings across all competitions.

With the midway point of the season on the horizon, Matthew Etherington's men are currently 19th in the League Two standings with 21 points from 21 matches, just seven points above the relegation zone.

The Red Devil's underwhelming campaign has been down to their struggles away from home, where they are one of just three sides yet to win a league game after picking up five draws and losing five of their 10 matches.

Sutton United, on the other hand, were sent crashing down to earth last time out when they suffered a 2-0 loss against league leaders Leyton Orient away from home.

In a one sided affair at the Matchroom Stadium, former Queen Park Rangers man Paul Smyth opened the scoring in the 62nd minute before Richie Wellens's men doubled their lead courtesy of a 79th-minute own goal from Alistair Smith.

The Yellows were previously on a run of three consecutive games without defeat in the league, picking up two wins and one draw since November's 2-0 defeat against Bradford City.

Matt Gray's men have picked up seven wins, five draws and lost 10 of their 22 League Two matches this season to collect 26 points and sit 16th in the table, four points off the top half of the standings.

While Sutton United will be looking to pick up a third consecutive victory over Crawley Town, they have struggled to grind out results on the road, where they are on a run of two draws and three defeats in their last five matches.

Crawley Town League Two form:

D

W

L

D

W

L

Crawley Town form (all competitions):

L

W

L

D

W

L

Sutton United League Two form:

L

L

W

D

W

L

Sutton United form (all competitions):

L

W

L

D

W

L

Team News

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Crawley Town will take to the pitch without the services of Dion Conroy, who has been sidelined since coming off injured against Colchester United on October 25.

He is joined on the club's injury table by Tobi Omole, who continues his long road to full fitness after picking up a severe injury back in August's game against Rochdale.

Ashley Nadesan and Joel Lynch were both forced off injured in the first half against Hartlepool last time out and the duo is a doubt for Monday's matchup.

On the other hand, Sutton United will have to make do without 27-year-old defender Coby Rowe, who has missed the last six matches through injury.

Smith grabbed a brace to inspire the Yellows to a 3-0 victory against Crawley Town when the sides met back in April and the 23-year-old midfielder will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:

Balcombe; Johnson, Ogungbo, Craig, Tsaroulla; Hessenthaler, Tilley, Powell, Balagizi, Davis; Telford

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Rose; Boldewijn, Kizzi, John, Milsom; Neufville, Eastmond, Smith, Randall; Bugiel, Wilson

We say: Crawley Town 1-0 Sutton United

While Sutton United will be looking to end their poor run of results on the road, Monday's game pits them against a Crawley Town side who are unbeaten in five of their last six home games in the league. We are backing the Red Devils to end their losing streak in this fixture and return to winning ways in front of their home fans, albeit by the off goal.

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