Football – England – League One
Monday 18th February 2013 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Crawley Town, who have had a disappointing season by their standards, take on fourth placed Doncaster Rovers who are still firmly in the hunt for an automatic promotion berth from League One back up to the Championship.
Crawley Town currently occupy 15th place and have won just once in their last five league matches which was a 3-0 home win over a Colchester United outfit who have tended not to travel too well this season. Recent defeats at Bournemouth 0-3, Tranmere Rovers 0-2 and Scunthorpe United 1-2 have prevented the Red Devils from climbing the table a la Yeovil Town, Coventry City and most impressively, Bournemouth.
Looking at Crawley’s home form you’ll see that the Colchester win is their only success in their last seven at Broadfield Stadium with points shared against Oldham Athletic, Walsall, Shrewsbury Town and Swindon Town as well as defeats to Yeovil Town and Sheffield United.
Another top six club comes to visit in the shape of Doncaster Rovers tonight and they also possess the best away record in the division winning a total of 10 matches so far, so Crawley will once again have their work cut out for them here this evening.
Despite not winning in their last three League One matches, visitors Doncaster Rovers could go top of the division if they take all three points at Crawley tonight. Rovers are just a single point behind leaders Bournemouth who were surprisingly turned over by lowly Preston NE on Saturday so despite recent defeats to Bury and Walsall and managing just a point against disappointing MK Dons in their last few matches, they have a chance to correct things on Monday night.
Doncaster’s away form is well-documented and with an overall record of 10-3-2 25/11 you can see why, as they’ve lost just once in their last thirteen matches on their travels which was the previously mentioned defeat against Bury. But away scalps of the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Notts County, Oldham, Preston and Stevenage along with holding Sheffield United and Swindon Town to draws has maintained their challenge for promotion.
Crawley Town have struggled for consistency in recent weeks while Doncaster possess a strong record on the road, so I’ll take advantage of the quarter ball on side here and back the away side at pretty good odds. Could be a 2-1 win for Rovers tonight.
Pick: Doncaster Rovers AH+0.25 @ 1.75 Pinnacle
