County go in search of their first away points of the season on Tuesday night, as we make the long journey down to Broadfield Stadium to take on a Crawley Town side still looking for their first league win.
Football in the UK came to a standstill over the weekend following the sad news that Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96. As a mark of respect, all games across Great Britain were postponed, including our Friday night fixture away at Tranmere which will now be rearranged for a later date.
The delay means we remain in 18th place in League Two following victory against AFC Wimbledon in our last outing – four points above the relegation zone and five points off a play-off place. Three points in West Sussex on Tuesday could see us end the night in the top half of the table for the first time this season, should other results also go our way.
Crawley meanwhile picked up just their third point of the new campaign last time out, as they twice came from behind to claim an impressive draw away at Salford City. They currently sit outside the bottom two on goal difference, four points behind County, with Hartlepool United and Rochdale currently occupying the relegation places. It will be the first time this season that County take on a side sat below them in the league table going into the game.
Our Opponents:
Much has changed over the Summer at Crawley Town, following the takeover of the Club by American consortium Wagmi United back in April.
In a statement after completing the takeover, the group confirmed they would be taking an unconventional route to running the Club as they ‘seek to reimagine how professional sports teams are owned and operated.’ Their ambition is to return to League One by the end of their second season in charge, with fans being offered the chance to vote on if their directors should continue should they fail to reach that target.
The first big call of their regime came when they chose to suspend manager John Yems following “serious and credible accusations” that he used discriminatory language and behaviour towards his players. The controversial 63-year-old was charged by the FA with racial discrimination shortly after leaving the Club.
The Red Devils finished last season in 12th, 16 points off a play-off place, but expectations have understandably been raised following the takeover. Coming in to oversee this new era is highly-rated 44-year-old Kevin Betsy, taking up his first job in senior first-team management. The former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder previously spent five years coaching several of England’s youth teams and spent last season managing Arsenal’s U23s side, guiding them to a third-place finish in Premier League 2.
He has been well backed in the transfer market in a major summer overhaul, with as many as 23 players coming through the door since the end of last season. Most notable of those is the addition of last season’s golden boot winner in League Two, Dominic Telford, who hit 25 goals for Newport County last season before moving to Broadfield Stadium on a free transfer.
Much like his team though, the 25-year-old has endured a slow start to the new campaign – starting only four games in all competitions and scoring once, from the penalty spot against Portsmouth in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Crawley are the only side in League Two yet to pick up a single point at home, losing all three of their league games in West Sussex so far this season to Leyton Orient, Northampton Town and AFC Wimbledon.
They have, however, been much more successful on their own turf in cup competitions, knocking out League One Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup before following that up with a famous win against Premier League Fulham in the Second Round, winning 2-0 against Marco Silva’s side. They also claimed a draw in their Papa John’s Trophy Group C opener against League One highfliers Portsmouth.
They are currently on a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, with draws away at Rochdale and Salford following those cup results against Fulham and Portsmouth. Performances have continued to improve, as they search for that elusive first league win at the eighth attempt on Tuesday night.
One to watch:
With marquee signing Dominic Telford still finding his feet at his new Club, one of their more low-key signings of the Summer has stepped up to the plate. 18-year-old midfielder James Balagizi has joined on a season-long loan deal from Premier League Liverpool and has thrived under Betsy in his first experience of first-team football.
The teenager has become one of the first names on the teamsheet over the last few weeks, scoring a brace against Northampton Town before following that up with another goal in that Carabao Cup win against Fulham.
Match Stats:
- Crawley Town are the only team in the top five divisions of English football that County are yet to play. After Tuesday’s game, County will be the only team in the country to have played every side from the Premier League to the National League.
- County are one of only three teams in League Two yet to pick up a point away from home, whilst Crawley are the only side in the division yet to pick up a point at home.
- Tuesday’s game will be Dave Challinor’s 50th in charge of Stockport County. He has won 32 of his 49 matches in charge so far, giving him a win percentage of over 60%.
- County are looking to win back-to-back games in the Football League for the first time since February 2009.
