Crewe Alexandra vs Crawley Town. Sky Bet League Two.
Alexandra StadiumAttendance3,155.
Friday 15 December 2017 13:17, UK
Crewe should be able to call on Callum Ainley for their Sky Bet League Two clash with Crawley on Saturday.
The young midfielder was forced off during the first half of Wednesday's FA Cup second-round replay against Blackburn with a facial wound and has had stitches. Charlie Kirk impressed as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat and the teenager could have a role to play again.
George Ray (back), James Jones (pelvis) and Ryan Wintle (fractured tibia) remain long-term absentees for a Crewe side who sit only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Manager Harry Kewell is intending to rotate heavily over the coming games as he looks to keep his Crawley squad fit throughout the festive period. Crawley face five games in 15 days as they look to improve on their 17th place in the table.
Kewell is likely to be without defender Mark Connolly after he was forced off at half-time in last weekend's victory over Mansfield, with replacement Joe McNerney ready to step in from the start after opening the scoring in the 2-0 win. Cardiff loanee Ibrahim Meite will be pushing for a return to the starting line-up having also scored off the bench against the Stags.
There have been just seven goals scored in the five Football League meetings between these sides at Gresty Road (two Crewe wins, two draws, one Crawley win), and never more than two in a single match. Indeed, at least one side has kept a clean sheet in each of the previous four such meetings.
Crawley have managed just one win in their last six league clashes with Crewe (D2 L3), scoring just four goals in that time.
Crewe have lost 12 of their last 15 league matches (W3) since losing just once in their opening six league matches this season (W3 D2).
The Red Devils have scored just six first half League Two goals this season, a joint low along with Barnet, Cambridge and Coventry.
