PREVIEW | Crawley Town vs Wrexham AFC

The Red Dragons are back on the road as they face Crawley tomorrow

6 October 2023

Phil Parkinson’s side will be aiming to return to winning ways in league action, as they make the long trip down south to face Crawley Town tomorrow at the Broadfield Stadium.

Crawley have enjoyed a great start to the 2023/24 season and currently sit fifth in the Sky Bet League Two table having lost just three times in the league so far.

The Red Dragons go into the fixture knowing that a victory against The Red Devils could propel them back up into the play-off spots.

Should Wrexham beat Crawley it will also lift Parkinson’s team above their opponents on goal difference.

Scott Lindsey’s side will be looking forward to getting back to home comforts, having lost their last match 2-0 away at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.

They’ve lost just once at home in all competitions, with eighth-placed Gillingham claiming a 1-0 win over Crawley earlier in the season.

THE RECAP

Last time out, the Red Dragons claimed a hard-fought point against Mansfield Town on Tuesday night as they drew 0-0 against Nigel Clough’s side.

The result means that the Stags are the only side in the EFL to remain undefeated so far this season.

Phil Parkinson elected to make two changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Crewe last weekend.

With Ryan Barnett suspended, Jacob Mendy was brought in to replace the wing-back, while Tom O’Connor was preferred in defence to Will Boyle.

Arthur Okonkwo produced several magnificent saves to claim his first league clean sheet since arriving at Wrexham on Transfer Deadline Day.

Mansfield recorded a few good chances, but Parkinson’s side showed great resilience to get a point out of the game on the back of their thrilling comeback against Crewe.

EYE ON THE OPPOSITION

Having stayed up by just three points last season, Crawley have enjoyed a big upturn in form so far this season and are currently sat in the play-off positions.

Scott Lindsey joined the club at the start of 2023 but has got the Red Devils firing since overhauling his side in the summer with a flurry of additions at the Broadfield Stadium.

Adam Campbell and Danilo Orsi are currently tied for the position of Crawley’s top-goal scorer. The pair have both netted four times so far in the league this season and are playing a vital role in the club’s current success.

They've established themselves as a high-scoring side following their recent exploits, having scored 18 goals in seven matches since the start of September.

The hosts will be looking to continue that trend and retain their unbeaten home record in league action tomorrow.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

In total, the sides have only met six times, with the last meeting coming during the 2010/11 season at Y Cae Ras, when they played out a 0-0 draw on February 15, 2011.

The side was managed by Dean Saunders at the time, with fan favourites Chris Maxwell, Dean Keates and Andy Morrell all selected in the starting line-up.

Current Wrexham defender Callum McFadzean’s older brother, Kyle, lined-up for the visitors, having arrived at the Broadfield Stadium in 2010 as a no-nonsense centre-back.

While there is often a considerable amount of time between home and away league meetings during a season, the last time that Wrexham faced Crawley away from home came just three days prior to their last meeting.

The trip didn’t go well for Saunders’ side, as they scuppered a two-goal lead and fell to a 3-2 defeat on the road following a hat-trick from Matt Tubbs for the hosts.

Wrexham’s last victory in the fixture came on Saturday, February 20, 2010, with goals from Mike Williams and Matthew Wolfenden leading the Red Dragons to a 2-0 win at Y Cae Ras.

HOW TO WATCH

UK supporters who aren't at the Broadfield Stadium can still tune into the fixture by purchasing an audio match pass. Match, month and season passes are available to access the commentary.

International supporters will be able to watch the live video stream.

To view all package options, click here.

Match Reports

REPORT | Crawley Town 0-1 Wrexham AFC

Ollie Palmer's brilliant goal seals victory on the road for ten-man Red Dragons

7 October 2023

Ollie Palmer’s brilliant flicked goal in the first-half proved the difference, as ten-man Wrexham stood firm to record a narrow win on the road away to Crawley Town.

Palmer fired Wrexham in front in the first-half, but substitute Andy Cannon’s second-half red card could have proved a turning point after the break.

The visitors stood firm, however – a second consecutive clean sheet sealing all three points.

Wrexham made one change from Tuesday’s battling point away to Mansfield Town, with Ben Tozer rested – after 100 consecutive league starts since signing – and Eoghan O’Connell returning in his place.

The game came alive on eight minutes, with Danilo Orsi’s shot blocked from the edge of the area, before Ronan Darcy’s effort flashed wide across goal from a tight angle moments later.

At the other end, Palmer turned well to feed Elliot Lee on 11 minutes and – though the midfielder was running away from goal – his clever backheeled flick deflected just wide.

Wrexham were in front of 13 minutes though – James McClean’s left-wing cross looping kindly for Palmer to deliver a perfect flick with the outside of his boot, over Corey Addai and into the far corner.

Crawley almost hit back immediately – Orsi getting the better of Tom O’Connor from a long ball from the restart – but Arthur Okonkwo saved low, and from the rebound Orsi’s shot clipped the bar and bounced over.

Orsi had another big chance on 37 minutes, when Will Wright crossed after an overlapping run on the right, but with the goal gaping the striker shot over.

Two minutes later, Laurence Maguire found space outside the area and shot left-footed, but his effort deflected wide off Aaron Hayden.

Paul Mullin had a great chance to double Wrexham’s advantage on 40 minutes, however – the striker outmuscled his marker to race onto James Jones’ lofted pass, but Addai stuck out a hand to save brilliantly.

Wrexham finished the half strongly as well, with Jacob Mendy cutting inside in first-half stoppage time and shooting through a crowd, but his effort was blocked with George Evans having been well placed for a pass instead.

On the stroke of half-time, Palmer then danced through two tackles and got to the byline, but there was nobody on hand to get to his cut-back.

Wrexham continued where they left off after the break too, and Palmer headed wide across goal from McClean’s left-wing corner on 50 minutes.

Two minutes later, Lee shifted the ball onto his left foot and shot just wide from the edge of the area after a good run by Jacob Mendy to create the chance.

McClean was next to try his luck, after Mullin outmuscled Jay Williams on 53 minutes to release the Irishman on the left, but he dragged his low shot wide across goal.

Just moments later, Palmer found space on the edge of the box and shot right-footed, but Addai was equal to it to turn it wide.

Wrexham’s momentum was halted when Mendy was forced off injured on 59 minutes, however, with Cannon replacing him and James Jones moving to right wing-back.

Cannon was only on for seven minutes, however, before he was shown a straight red card for a lunging tackle on Adam Campbell in the Wrexham half.

Aaron Henry went for goal from the resultant free-kick, but his effort deflected up and over off the wall.

Crawley had another free-kick chance on 76 minutes, right on the edge of the area after Aaron Hayden brought down Nick Tsaroulla, but Will Wright shot well over.

Wrexham’s response was to bring Jordan Tunnicliffe on for Mullin, and Jordan Davies for Lee, with O’Connor moving to left wing-back, and McClean to the right.

Klaidi Lolos cut inside on 85 minutes, and shot right-footed, but his effort dropped just wide.

At the other end, Davies found space to unleash a rising left-footed shot, which Addai could only turn wide of the post.

Wrexham stood firm at the other end, through seven minutes of stoppage time, and there was even time for Steven Fletcher to loft an audacious long-range shot just over as the visitors sealed a valuable three points on the road.

Line-ups:

Crawley Town (4-1-4-1): Addai, Wright, Williams, Conroy, Maguire, Henry, Darcy (Gordon 89), Gladwin (Lolos 29), Campbell (Forster 78), Tsaroulla, Orsi

Subs: Ashby-Hammond, Roles, Johnson, Khaleel

Wrexham AFC (3-5-2): Okonkwo, Hayden, O’Connell, O’Connor, Mendy (Cannon 59), Jones, Evans, Lee (J.Davies 80), McClean, Palmer (Fletcher 67), Mullin (Tunnicliffe 80)

Subs: Howard, Boyle, Dalby

Referee: Ollie Yates

Attendance: 5,572 (1,334 away)

Bookings:

Crawley Town: Wright (70, time wasting), Gordon (90+2, foul)

Wrexham: Palmer (33, foul), Mendy (43, foul), McClean (45+1, foul), Hayden (76, foul), Fletcher (83, time wasting), Davies (90+7, time wasting)

Sent off:

Wrexham: Cannon (66, foul)