FA Cup Second Round: Crawley Town vs Swindon Town
November 26th 2010 14:58
Great preview of this match by ESPN.com
Two divisions may separate Crawley and Swindon, but it is the Conference side who will go into this FA Cup Second Round tie high on confidence, writes Dale Johnson.
Fresh from a 7-0 thrashing of Altrincham last weekend, Crawley welcome their League One opponents to Broadfield Stadium with the very real possibility that the two sides could meet in the Football League next season.
Earlier this year the Red Devils seemed destination to go bust, facing winding-up petitions from HMRC over unpaid tax but they eventually staved off the threat of closure and still finished seventh in the table. Co-owner Bruce Winfield helped clear the debts to give Steve Evans - who took Boston United into the Football League in 2002 - the tools to challenge for a place in League Two.
Crawley now sit a point behind Conference leaders AFC Wimbledon with a game in hand in what, along with Luton Town, is looking like a three-horse race for the solitary automatic spot. They added Reading youngster Abdulai Bell-Baggie on loan in time for the game at the County Ground, beating several League Two clubs to his signature. But Simon Rusk continues to be sidelined with a knee injury.
It's a very different story for Swindon Town. Losing finalists to Millwall in last season's play-off final, Danny Wilson's side have struggled to match those performances this time around. The Robins are now lounging in 20th place, just two points above the relegation zone, with the third-worst defence in the division.
Manchester City have not given Swindon permission to play loanee David Ball in the FA Cup but they can use Matt Ritchie, whose parent club is Portsmouth. Midfielder Jonathan Douglas is doubtful with a groin injury while Kevin Amankwaah (knee) and Vincent Pericard (groin) are unlikely to make the game.
Other Key Notes and Facts to know:
Crawley Player to Watch: The dangerman will be leading scorer Matthew Tubbs, who has plundered 15 goals from 17 league starts and scored a hat-trick against Altrincham on his return from a two-week lay-off with a back injury.
Swindon Town Player to Watch: Their hopes with rest on the shoulders of striker Charlie Austin - who ironically was injured when Swindon enjoyed their best run of the club's season in September. He has 11 goals in 16 starts in all competitions, and eight goals in his last 10 appearances, and will be a handful for the Crawley defence.
Key Battle - Sergio Torres v Michael Rose: A £100,000 summer signing from Peterborough, Torres was one of the notable signings of Crawley's "Project Promotion". He returned to the starting XI in style at the weekend with a goal and an assist against Altrincham. The winger will cause trouble for Michael Rose, who also joined Swindon ahead of this campaign after leaving Stockport County.
Trivia: Swindon manager Danny Wilson was on the wrong end of a giant-killing in 1999 when manager of Sheffield Wednesday. The Premier League side lost 3-1 at Second Division Gillingham despite leading 1-0 with 20 minutes to go in Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
Stats: Crawley have only lost once in their last 11 matches and won 5-0 at Guiseley in the FA Cup First Round but have only reached the Third Round proper once in their history during the 1991-92 season when they were beaten 5-0 at Brighton.
Odds: Crawley (2.80), Swindon (2.40) and the draw (3.50) with Bet365. Crawley to win 2-1 is priced at 10.00.
Prediction: It's a tough one to call and Swindon may get what they are probably hoping for - a draw and a replay back at the County Ground. But it seems like we will get goals in this one.
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