Crawley Town will host Crystal Palace at Broadfield Stadium in a pre-season friendly on Saturday as both teams continue their preparations ahead of the upcoming campaign.
The home side have won two and lost one of their three friendly fixtures, while the visitors have drawn their only pre-season match so far against Charlton Athletic.
Match preview
© Reuters
After seven years of flirting with relegation and mid-table finishes in League Two, Crawley appeared destined for relegation in the 2022-23 season following a disappointing first half of the campaign.
Scott Lindsey was brought in as manager in January 2023 to stabilize the team, and he successfully secured their safety as Crawley finished just three points above the drop zone in 22nd place.
The following season, however, the Red Devils shocked the league as Lindsey had the side battling for promotion to League One, a race they had scarcely been involved in since last being promoted in 2011-12.
Crawley eventually secured a playoff spot with a final-day victory that moved them into seventh place above Barrow, going on to comfortably beat MK Dons 8-1 on aggregate in the semi-final before defeating Crewe Alexandra 2-0 in the final at Wembley.
As they prepare for their first League One campaign since 2014-15, Crawley have already played three friendly matches, securing 2-0 victories against Lewes and East Grinstead Town before suffering a disappointing defeat to Wealdstone in their most recent outing.
Premier League opposition Crystal Palace will undoubtedly be the hosts' toughest challenge so far, although Oliver Glasner's side did fail to beat fellow League One team Charlton Athletic in their only friendly match to date.
Glasner made an immense impact on Palace's 2023-24 season, joining the club when they were in 14th and leading them to a 10th-placed finish with seven wins from his 13 matches, including six wins and a draw in the final seven fixtures.
Despite losing superstar Michael Olise and rumours of Eberechi Eze also departing the club, the Eagles will be optimistic ahead of their first full campaign under the guidance of Glasner.
However, their opening pre-season fixture did not go as planned, going behind to Charlton just before half time, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi eventually scoring a 92nd-minute equaliser.
Team News
© Reuters
In their last defeat, Lindsey opted to play one squad for 60 minutes before switching to a team largely made of trialists, with the decisive goal coming after those substitutions, and the manager is expected to do the same again here.
Last season's top scorers Danilo Orsi-Dadomo, Klaidi Lolos and Adam Campbell have all departed during the transfer window, leaving new signing Rushian Hepburn-Murphy likely to play in attack.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is unavailable for the visitors owing to his involvement with France at the Olympics, while Dean Henderson, Marc Guehi, Eze and Adam Wharton are all not expected to return to the squad until later in pre-season.
Rak-Sakyi impressed after being substituted on in the final 30 minutes of that match against Charlton, and the winger could play from the start in this one.
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Adeyemo, Mukena, Conroy, Flint; Kelly, Williams, Khaleel, Roles, Darcy; Hepburn-Murphy
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Clyne, Holding, Riad; Ward, Hughes, Schlupp, Mitchell; Kamada, Rak-Sakyi; Edouard
We say: Crawley Town 1-3 Crystal Palace
Crawley have performed well in their opening pre-season fixtures, while Palace failed to beat League One opposition in their opening friendly, but the visitors boast a much stronger squad than the Red Devils, and we expect Glasner's men to win this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
