Next Up: Exeter City vs Crawley Town

Another win on Tuesday night, coupled with Wycombe dropping points at Lincoln, means City go into their penultimate home match of the season within striking distance, and could finish the day in the automatic promotion places should they win and Wycombe lose to promoted Accrington. As expected Dean Moxey missed the win over Chesterfield with the knock he picked up in last week’s draw at Accrington, causing a bit of a reshuffle that saw Kane Wilson drafted in to the left back position. Paul Tisdale’s options remain limited by the continuing injury problems, and he will be hoping that at least one or two of the walking wounded are fit even if only from the bench.

The appointment of Harry Kewell last summer raised a few eyebrows, particularly when Crawley made a dreadful start to the season. By Christmas the Red Devils were looking nervously over their shoulder, but a storming run of seven wins in eight games not only took Kewell’s side away from danger but in fact for a while made them an outside bet for a playoff push. Those hopes have since faded, with just one win from their last nine as the foot appears to have been taken off the gas with the side having had little to play for. If you are a betting man, Crawley are your go-to for a “both teams to score” wager, as in 18 matches in 2018 there have been just three in which either side has failed to score. That said, nobody has reached double figures, the joint top scorers being the exciting Enzio Boldewijn and Jimmy Smith with nine each.

The reverse fixture in November came during City’s wretched away run, ironically just a few days after losing at Chesterfield. Crawley added to City’s woes that night with a 3-1 win, the first time City have left the Broadfield Stadium with nothing and only Crawley’s second victory in this fixture. The goals that night came from Josh Payne (penalty) and a double from Jordan Roberts after City had gone ahead through Dean Moxey. Crawley’s other win in this fixture was in this match last season, a late goal from Josh Yorwerth sealing the points. City, however, have won eight times in league fixtures to those two, with three matches finishing level.

Head to head details can be found at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?p=9487

The match officials for this game are:

Referee: Antony Coggins
Assistant Referees: Andrew Laver and Matt Eva
Fourth Official: Adam Bromley

Two Exeter games for Antony Coggins, detail at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?s=coggins