MATCH PREVIEW: United host Crawley on Tuesday

We have a look at the midweek fixture

29 March 2021

The third of our run of home games brings mid-table Crawley to Brunton Park on Tuesday night.

bits

The full force of reality TV hit Crawley earlier this season when Towie star Mark Wright resurrected his football career when he signed for the Red Devils.

His first start didn't come until last month, a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Harrogate, but that result was typical of the run they were on that time, with wins hard to come by through a sticky period.

A good FA Cup run had been ended by Bournemouth at the fourth round stage, and that allowed manager John Yems to concentrate on the needs of his squad.

Midfielder Josh Wright joined brother Mark following his release from Orient, and James Tilley headed down the road after he had been released by Grimsby.

Winger Jordan Maguire-Drew was loaned from Orient, and the non-league circuit was raided when forward Davide Rodari was snapped up from Hastings United.

opposition

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Crawley wins
League	9	6	2
Total	9	6	2

The Red Devils are currently six points off the play-off places and come into this fixture off the back of back-to-back defeats.

Saturday's home reverse at the hands of Port Vale was particularly annoying after former-Blue Ashley Nadesan had levelled the scores on the stroke of half time. The rejuvenated Valiants went on to win comfortably as they bagged two more after the break.

Crawley enjoyed a four-game unbeaten run in the middle of this month as they sent out the message that the play-offs were still a target, but wins have been just as likely as defeats in 2021 with consistency being their main problem and cause of frustration.

who watch

Forward Tom Nichols has returned to form recently with four goals from his last eight games.

He's another very mobile attack-minded player who links things up as he makes things hard for the opposition back line.

His assist tally of 10 is impressive, as is his overall goal haul of 15 so far.

One who can score from inside or outside of the area, he's our one to watch on Tuesday night.

Having said that, let's not forget Ashley Nadesan. We saw first-hand how good he is at turning 40:60 situations in his favour.

And, if selected, he's bound to want to do well at a club where he enjoyed decent loan spells.

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highlights

United's trip to Crawley in November 2020 proved to be productive as a goal just before the break from Rhys Bennett provided a springboard. Josh Kayode and Aaron Hayden made it 3-0, and a bad day became worse for the Red Devils when David Sesay received late marching orders.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

These sides came together down in Crawley just before the lockdown, in February 2020. It was a tight, tense 0-0 draw, with both teams missing chances to snatch it.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Priot to that the Red Devils headed to Brunton Park for the opening game of the 2019/20 season. Harry McKirdy opened the scoring with just six minutes on the clock, but the Reds were back on terms just 10 minutes later when Beryly Lubala pounced. The lead was restored just before half time by Stefan Scougall, and that's how it stayed with the hosts holding on to take the three points. A feisty encounter saw Luke Young sent off in time added on.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Carlisle United 4 – 2 Crawley Town, 27 April 2019

Crawley Town 2 – 3 Carlisle United, 22 December 2018

Carlisle United 2 – 2 Crawley Town, 17 March 2018

Crawley Town 0 – 1 Carlisle United, 30 September 2017

officials

Referee - Robert Lewis
Assistant Referee 1 - David Avent
Assistant Referee 2 - Daniel Woodward
Fourth Official - Gary Hilton
Observer - Michael Pike

The referee for this game is Mr Robert Lewis. Robert has taken charge of 25 games so far this season, showing 69 yellow cards and four reds.

We had Rob in December 2020 for our 4-0 home win over Stevenage. Nick Anderton, Lewis Alessandra, Josh Kayode and Joe Riley scored our goals, and Luke Prosser was sent off for the visitors when he picked up his second booking with 15 minutes left to play.

Mr Lewis was our referee for the January 2020 trip to Boundary Park where a goal from Byron Webster earned the Blues a 1-1 draw. Aaron Hayden was the only away name taken on the day.

He was the man in the middle here at Brunton Park in January 2019 when we beat Mansfield 3-2. Hallam Hope [2] and Jack Sowerby bagged our goals, with Matt Preston and Tyler Walker notching for the Stags. Neal Bishop was dismissed as he walked down the tunnel at half time in what was a feisty encounter.

We saw him prior to that when he was at Brunton Park for our 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lincoln towards the end of the 2017/18 season. Matt Green scored what turned out to be the winner just before the break, and Tom Parkes and Jamie Devitt had their names taken in what was a feisty encounter.

A busy day for the referee was capped off in time added on when he showed Mike Jones a red card for a second rash challenge.

He was also the man in the middle for our trip to Grimsby earlier that season. Clint Hill scored the winner with 20 minutes left to play and there were no cards shown at all on the day.

tickets

This is a behind closed doors fixture.

Please see above for details on how to purchase a live streaming match pass to see all of the action on iFollow.

Alternatively click HERE to go directly to our iFollow United information page where you can also purchase your match pass - match passes cost £10 per game.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: United 2 - 0 Crawley

Report from the Tuesday night home game

30 March 2021

It was a third home game within the space of eight days for the Blues with Crawley Town the visitors.

There were two changes from the team that faced Cambridge on Saturday, with Jack Armer and Lewis Alessandra in for Nick Anderton and Dean Furman.

United attacked the Waterworks End in the first half and there was a superb team move from the off when Zanzala spun his man before breaking away, halfway inside Crawley territory. He fed it to Mellish, who had three attackers to choose from, but the flag was up for offside as they looked to finish things off.

A cross from Wright bounced awkwardly inside the United six-yard box at the other end and it spun deceptively over Tanner when it sprang off the surface. Allarakhia had his back to goal and the home defence regrouped to see it off.

Carlisle looked lively and Patrick took a run across the face of the area with the ball at his feet. He checked back, before coming the other way, and his eventual effort was blocked.

Riley employed his long throw on 10 minutes and a poor clearance sat up for Armer to strike, 18-yards out. He applied power, but it ricocheted off McDonald and angled harmlessly wide.

Another throw was headed back to Riley by McNerny, and his neat cut back was met by McDonald on the volley. He tried to guide it but it was always high, from the moment it left his boot.

The Cumbrians crafted a good opening when Riley and Tanner exchanged passes out wide. Alessandra moved off his man as he showed for it, and he intelligently slid the pass to the opposite edge of the area, where Armer had arrived late. He set himself to shoot but he dragged it into the ground.

Crawley were carved open again when Mellish came out of the pack with the ball at his feet. Patrick wanted it, and he fed it on for Armer to hit. His shot turned into a cross and the Red Devils were pleased to get it away.

It was a short-lived reprieve though as Riley stepped inside from the left wing, with options ahead. He chose to shoot from distance, and Morris couldn't believe his bad luck as it spooned off a lump of mud, over his head and into the net.

Keeper Glenn Morris was needed when Alessandra worked space 25-yards out. His drilled attempt was going in until two hands parried it. Blue shirts camped forward and Guy was next to have a pop when he unleashed one from distance. Morris saw it late and he could only beat it away.

A fantastic passage of play followed, with Alessandra, Patrick, Mellish and Riley keeping things neat, and Tanner gave a shout as he overlapped. His cross found Zanzala on the dive but his 12-yard header crept agonisingly wide, with the stopper well beaten.

Striker Omari Patrick registered a real goal of the season contender on 33 minutes when he took a long ball forward on his outstep. He turned away from his marker, took a moment to assess things, and then stepped forward before putting his laces through it. Morris was caught completely off guard as the effort from distance whistled into his top corner.

Home tails were up and Alessandra wound his way through two challenges before he reached a shooting position. It was on target, but a red shirt got in the way.

Crawley offered little as an attacking force in the first period but an inswinging free kick from Powell caused teeth to be sucked as it evaded everybody. Farman was comfortable as he watched it go behind.

Tanner then had to nod a deep cross behind to safety, as Nichols sent one in, and the corner was subsequenty cleared.

A slick Carlisle move welcomed the start of the first half with Patrick and Armer keeping it close before bringing Alessandra into the mix. He slipped it through for Mellish to chase, and his first-time delivery was met on the run by Zanzala. A clipped header was gratefully gathered by Morris.

The Red Devils responded with a ball forward that Allarakhia trapped. He dropped a shoulder and crossed, but Farman was out to punch. A foul in the scramble that followed gave Crawley a chance from a 24-yard free kick, but Powell whipped it over the angle of post and bar.

Powell sent one even higher when he was presented with another free kick opportunity, this time from 30-yards.

Carlisle were incensed when an away attack was allowed to develop despite the referee having seen Callum Guy fall to the floor covering his eye. A dangerous cross was cleared and the match official finally stopped play.

United were close to adding a third just past the hour when Guy ripped a great free kick at the near post. It wound its way through after Morris had palmed it, and Alessandra was there to volley it at the target. The keeper punched, and Zanzala was caught offside.

Talking about close, a Riley cross brought a bullet of a downward header from Zanzala from just eight yards out. Morris spread himself to block on the line, and the keeper was even better as he stuck out a leg to prevent the home forward from prodding the loose pieces over the line.

Morris was tested again as the hosts pressed on, with Riley fed by Patrick after Zanzala had shown fantastic strength to hold off McNerny. A dive from the away glovesman saw him get both hands to the shot.

Midfielder Callum Guy dipped a 28-yard free kick onto the roof of the net as the game entered the final quarter, and United knocked on the door again when a ball over the top was chased by Zanzala. He turned away, and gave it to Mellish, but the delivery that followed was charged down.

The Blues saw the game out well as they closed the gaps, and substitute Gime Toure rounded things off as he went on a run before seeing his effort hit a leg and drift into the keeper's hands.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Riley (17), Patrick (33)

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Bookings

Carlisle United - Guy (77)

Crawley Town - McNerny (66), Craig (81)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Farman, Tanner, Hayden (c), McDonald, Armer, Riley (Furman 90), Guy, Mellish, Patrick (Toure 86), Alessandra (Walker 89), Zanzala (Scott 89). Subs - Norman (gk), Anderton, Charters.

Crawley Town - Morris, Francomb (c), McNerny, Powell (Matthews 74), Nadesan (Tilley 86), Allarakhia (Davies 80), Nichols, Craig, Tsaroulla, Hessenthaler, Wright. Subs - Nelson (gk), Sesay, Maguire-Drew.

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Match officials

Referee - Robert Lewis
Assistant Referee 1 - David Avent
Assistant Referee 2 - Daniel Woodward
Fourth Official - Gary Hilton

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Attendance - BCD