OPPOSITION REPORT: Crawley Town

The Chalk Board

DON’T be fooled by Crawley’s emphatic 5-1 drubbing of Barnsley last weekend, scoring goals has been a big problem for the Red Devils.

Although Dean Saunders has attempted to implement a more attacking style since taking over in December, just three League One teams have found the net on fewer occassions than Crawley this term.

Goals have also been a problem at the other end as the West Sussex side have kept just one clean sheet since the start of November, with Saunders moving to arrest his side’s abject defensive record by bringing in Darren Ward from Swindon in the January transfer window.

Likely Line-up

A man in-form: Izale McLeod

CRAWLEY’S hopes of survival in League One seem to rest on the shoulders of striker McLeod, who has carried the bulk of his side’s workload in front of goal this term.

No more was that evident in the Red Devils’ last fixture a week ago where McLeod bagged just the second hat-trick of his career in the big win over Barnsley.

The 30-year-old only arrived at Broadfield Stadium in the summer but has proved a useful addition and boasts a record of a goal every other game.

Boss Dean Saunders will be praying he maintains that form until May as fellow first-choice frontmen Matt Harrold and Gavin Tomlin have found the net just twice between them all season.

Treatment room

IT IS a case of who is available rather than who isn’t for the Red Devils this weekend as manager Dean Saunders is set to be without no fewer than nine players for the trip to the County Ground.

The biggest concern is at the back as centre half Sonny Bradley and full-back Ryan Dickson are the two defenders expected to travel to Wiltshire.

Dean Leacock has been out since Boxing Day with a groin problem and Joe Walsh serves the second game of a three-match ban.

Darren Ward is also amongst the defenders unavailble. The centre back is currently on loan at Crawley from Swindon and is unable to play against his parent club.

Matt Harrold will also miss the trip after having an injection in his Achilles.

The form guide

Tue, Jan 27

SKYBET LEAGUE 1

3-0 defeat

v Chesterfield (A)

Sat, Jan 31

SKYBET LEAGUE 1

2-1 win v

Preston (H)

Sat, Feb 7

SKYBET LEAGUE 1

2-1 defeat v

Yeovil Town (a)

Tue, Feb 10

SKYBET LEAGUE 1

5-0 defeat

v Donacaster (H)

Sat, Feb 14

SKYBET LEAGUE 1

5-1 win

v Barnsley (h)

Top Scorers

Izale McLeod: 14

Marvin Elliott: 5

Gwion Edwards: 4

Discipline

Izale McLeod: 5Y, 1R

Joe Walsh: 2Y, 1R

Dean Leacock: 5Y

The Stat

Crawley have conceded more goals than any other team in League One - 55.