Going in to the start of the 2023/24 League Two season, very few would’ve predicted Crawley to be in the position they’re in at this point of the season, or indeed any point of the season.
In fact, here at The Real EFL, our writers had Crawley to be relegated in our pre-season predictions. It’s fair to say that manager Scott Lindsey was not a fan of our predictions and his side have not just proved us wrong this year, but also many other pundits and news outlets.
They’ve never once looked as if they were a side struggling and although not mathematically just yet, will certainly not be going down this year.
Plenty of praise has to be put on manager Scott Lindsey who has done a frankly astonishing job this season. Having lost key players like Dom Telford, Ashley Nadesan, Jack Powell and James Tilley all in the summer, most Crawley fans would’ve feared the worst going into their first game of the season.
Yet, Lindsey has galvanised his squad and in fairness, has them playing some of their best football in recent memory. They may not grab the headlines of some of the teams in the hunt for the play-offs, but they’re quietly going about their work and still hold a good chance of making the play-offs.
Currently sat in ninth, just two points off of the play-offs with a game in hand over the two teams directly above them, the Red Devils may well believe that they can break into the top seven prior to the commencement of the season.
That being said the fight for the play-offs is currently wide open and no less than eleven teams look to still be in the hunt. Barrow and Walsall currently operate sixth and seventh, sat on 53 and 51 points respectively. Bradford City in 16th are sat on 46 points, meaning just seven points separates 11 sides.
Crawley are giving themselves a great opportunity with their game in hand on the majority of the league as well as their goal difference being superior to many in the hunt. The fact that they aren’t getting too much attention probably also helps them.
In their last five games, the Red Devils are unbeaten, with four wins and a draw to their name. That run of form is what has really helped their chances, and it has to be said, it is there defence that is getting them through games at the minute.
Having conceded just once in that spell, to fellow play-off chasers Walsall at that, the defence is proving itself to be one of the strongest in the league at this point of the season. Although they may not possess an exciting attack like many of their rivals, they continue to find ways of getting through games and consistently putting three points on the board.
The next month sees plenty of important games for the club and their next five sees them play ; Barrow, Morecambe, Harrogate Town, Notts County and Stockport County, all who have similar promotion ambitions. If able to get through those games and still sit at a relative distance to seventh, then they’ll give themselves a great chance.
After those games comes two easier ones against Tranmere and Doncaster Rovers, who are both in the bottom half before three tough away games at Newport County, Mansfield Town and Wrexham.
But it is perhaps their final three games which is most intriguing and if still in touch, you’d expect Lindsey’s side to capitalise. Crawley welcome Colchester United to the Broadfield stadium before a penultimate weekend travel to Sutton United. Those two teams currently sit in 21st and 24th respectively, and looking at the schedule, no team has an easier final three games.
To end the season, Crawley have a home tie against 22nd placed Grimsby Town. Looking at how the Mariners have performed recently, Crawley fans will hopeful going into that one, and its definitely one of the easier final day matchups.
The next month and a half is a huge one for Crawley and having already surpassed all pre-season expectations, this year has already been an achievement. If able to make the play-offs however, then Lindsey surely has to be up for the League Two Manager of the Year Award based on how the season has panned out.
Those final three games are extremely favourable and they may just give Crawley the chance that they need to break into the play-offs. It’ll be a hard month before then though, but they’ve gone under the radar and are still well in the hunt.
Senior Editor
