Exeter vs Crewe preview
Friday 14 December 2018 11:54, UK
Exeter will check on Luke Croll as they attempt to get their promotion challenge back on track against Crewe at St James Park.
Croll missed the defeat at Bury through injury but Grecians boss Matt Taylor hopes he will be back in contention this weekend.
Saturday will come too soon for fellow defender Hiram Boateng (hip). The 22-year-old's absence has coincided with Exeter's eight-match winless run in League Two and he remains around 10 days away from a return. Taylor reported some illness in the Exeter squad last week but that appears to have cleared up.
Club captain George Ray could be back in Crewe's starting line up. The defender made his comeback from a rib injury as a second-half substitute during the home defeat to Oldham, having already played a full 90 minutes for the Under-23s.
Michael Raynes and Kevin O'Connor were overlooked against the Latics but both defenders will hope to be back in the squad this time round. Veteran midfielder Paul Green has been out since August with a knee injury but could be back in first-team contention before the end of the year.
Opta stats
Exeter have won each of their last three league games against Crewe, as many victories as in their previous 10 such matches combined (P10 W3 D3 L4).
There has not been a draw between Exeter and Crewe in a league match at St. James' Park since September 1975, with the Railwaymen winning three and losing six of the last nine visits.
Exeter are winless in their last eight games in League Two (D4 L4), after winning five of their previous seven (D2).
Crewe have won just once in ten away games in League Two this season (D2 L7), failing to score in seven of those games.
Exeter's Jayden Stockley has only scored twice in his last eight league games, after scoring six in his previous seven in League Two.
