PREVIEW: Coventry City v Crawley Town - The Sky Blues host the Reds in SkyBet League Two

City look to wrap up a strong week away from home with a win at the Ricoh...

24 November 2017

The Sky Blues host Crawley Town tomorrow to as they look to round off a good week on the road with a victory at the Ricoh (3pm).

Mark Robins' side will be without Jodi Jones after the 20-year-old ruptured his anterior crutiate ligament (ACL) during Tuesday's trip to Stevenage and joins Tony Andreu on the sidelines as he continues to fight back from the same injury.

Jack Grimmer is now back in contention after missing the last two games with concussion. The right-back had played every minute for the Sky Blues before a clash of heads against Mansfield forced him out of selection.

Crawley boss Harry Kewell comes to the Ricoh on the back of his first managerial victory in nearly two months. The Reds may still be without captain Jimmy Smith and Moussa Sanoh who both have hamstring injuries.

The Opponent

Player-coach, Glenn Morris could be vital between the sticks for Crawley. The 33-year-old spent nine years at Leyton Orient before moving on to Southend United, Gillingham and Aldershot before fighting his was back to first team football with the Reds and earning a new contract

Jordan Roberts' pace may be an issue for City. The former Inverness Caledonian Thistle man has scored five times already this season in just fifteen apppearances from outwide.

On the opposite wing, Enzio Boldenwijn can also be a danger. The number seven made the move from Dutch second division side Almere City in 2016 and has been a regular for the Reds ever since.

Memorable Meetings

Coventry kept their SkyBet League One status and relegated the Reds on final day in 2014 thanks to James Maddison's late winner at the Broadfield Stadium.

Mathias Pogba gave the home side the lead after Nick Proschwitz missed a first half penalty that could have given City a vital lead.

A Braford City goal elsewhere in League One would have seen the Sky Blues drop into the bottom four, but Macus Tudgay levelled and Maddison charged onto a low cross to fire City ahead in the last minute - a goal to save City and relegate the hosts.

Last Five Meetings

W Coventry City 1-0 Crawley Town - Checkatrade Trophy - 7th December 216

W Crawley Town 1-2 Coventry City - SkyBet League One - 3rd May 2015

D Coventry City 2-2 Crawley Town - SkyBet League One - 4th October 2014

D Coventry City 2-2 Crawley Twn - SkyBet League One - 12th January 2014

L Crawley Town 2-3 Coventry City - SkyBet League One - 3rd August 2013

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Coventry City 1-1 Crawley Town - McNulty strike earns City a point at the Ricoh

Marc McNulty's close range volley means points are shared in SkyBet League Two...

25 November 2017

The Sky Blues have fought from behind to earn a point at the Ricoh thanks to Marc McNulty's second half strik

The 25-year-old came close on a number of ocassion and nearly gave City victory late on but he could not connect with Jack Grimmer's hard-hit cross as the visitors clung on to a point.

Duckens Nazon struck the post from range in the first half but it was Crawley who led at the break through Jordan Roberts.

Mark Robins' side now sit sixth in SkyBet League Two.

Nazon was back in the starting eleven after serving his one match suspension. The Haitian Interntional looked lively coming inside from the left wing and fired the game's first shot wide of the far post from 25-yards.

Nazon's constant drifiting inside gave the 23-year-old plenty of sights at goal, but it would have Marc McNulty claiming the Sky Blues' second chance of the afternoon had it flew in off the post. Stuart Beavon did well to hold up play before finding Nazon again on th edge of the area before he unleashed a rocket that flicked up off McNulty's toe and rattled the frame of the goal.

Mark Robins' side dominated the first half, but the Sky Blues boss was forced to change his half-time team talk late on when the Reds snatched the lead moments before the whistle.

Panutche Camara broke free downt he right catching City unawares before he rolled a delicate ball across the six yard box for Jordan Roberts to slot home from close range and give Harry Kewell's side an unlikely lead.

The Sky Blues started the second half even stronger. Nazon again did well to create another chance for McNulty but the striker opted to cut back inside instead of shooting with his left and was crowded out.

The former Portsmouth man would make amends with twenty minutes left on the clock. Ryan Haynes charged down the left before picking out Nazon, who knocked the ball down for the for McNulty to blast past Glenn Morris and into the Crawley net.

City were more dominant than ever, and McNulty almost doubled his and the Sky Blues' tally moments after, but neither him nor Jordan Shipley could get on the end of Grimmer's low cross to giv City the win.

Coventry City 1-1 Crawley Town

Yellows: Randall (2'), Davies (29')

Reds:

Goals: Roberts (42'), McNulty (74')

Attendance: 6,381 (159 away)

Coventry City XI: Burge (GK), Grimmer, Davies (Stevenson 45'), Willis, McDonald, Haynes, Doyle (C), Shipley (Dev. Kelly-Evans 82'), McNulty, Nazon, Beavon (Ponticelli 69').

Subs: O'Brien (GK), Stokes, Maycock, Biamou.

Crawley Town XI: Morris (GK) (C), Young, Payne, Connolly, Boldewijn (McNerney 82'), Roberts, Yorwerth, Evina, Bulman (Djalo 82'), Randall, Camara (Meite 75').

Subs: Mersin (GK), Doherty, Lelan, Lewis.

Match Reports

Standings