Crawley v Colchester preview
Sunday 24 December 2017 15:48, UK
Jordan Roberts returns to the Crawley squad after suspension for the game against Colchester.
Roberts has completed a one-game ban for his dismissal in the recent clash with Crewe. Jimmy Smith was also sent off in that match and he serves the second game of a three-match suspension.
Thomas Verheydt dropped to the bench for Saturday's game at Accrington and is unlikely to break back into a winning starting XI.
Colchester boss John McGreal will be hoping Ryan Inniss and Luke Prosser can be involved against the Reds. Inniss had been expected to feature in Saturday's clash with Port Vale following a shoulder problem but did not make the bench.
Prosser is recovering well from a knee injury and has an outside chance of being named among the substitutes. Kurtis Guthrie was an unused substitute at the weekend following his return from an ankle injury and will hope for a more prominent role.
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Crawley suffered their first ever defeat at the hands of Colchester in the Football League when the sides met on match day six of this season (1-3); previously the Red Devils were unbeaten in eight league matches against the U's (W4 D4).
Crawley have conceded just one goal from their four home matches against the U's in the English Football League scoring five goals during that period (W2 D2).
Colchester have won each of their last three away games in the EFL on Boxing Day, including a 1-0 triumph at Luton last season.
Sammie Szmodics has scored in three consecutive league matches (4 goals); in fact, the Colchester man has netted six in his last seven League Two appearances.
