After last week’s hugely enjoyable party-pooping at the Abbey Stadium, we’re back at the Lamex; Crawley Town wrapping up our 2020-1 home schedule. Unlike the Us, our guests have nothing left to play for now. And that’s just an observation – not a criticism. We have nothing left to play for either. If the Reds want to dial it in for their last away day, however, we won’t be offended. As long as we end the campaign on a high, that’s the main thing…
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The Details: Stevenage v Crawley Town
Where’s the game?
It’s nearly hard to believe that it’s now eight months since we welcomed Portsmouth to the Lamex for our Carabao Cup Round One tie. Now, for the last time until we get to the other side of the summer, our beautiful home is prepped to host its last football match. And, who knows? Maybe the next time the lads step out onto the turf, us fans will be there too.
Can I watch Stevenage v Crawley Town?
Got your tenner at the ready? It’s time to take one last glimpse at the Lamex for the 2020-1 campaign and nab yourself an iFollow Match Pass. Your virtual presence could make an enormous difference when the Reds come to town. Well. Maybe not. But we’d like to make you feel all warm inside. And help make a little wedge for the club in the process…
How is Boro’s form looking at the moment?
Our delightful win at the Abbey Stadium last weekend keeps us nicely afloat inside the top half of the League Two form table; 13 points from a potential 24 is no bad haul. And it was of course fantastic to halt a run of four without a win; a streak that could’ve seen us limp to the season’s finish line. So, we suppose the question now is whether we can use that and finish strongly. We’re a win and a draw from the 60-point mark with two to play.
Looking back over the course of the season, our form indoors hasn’t been what we’d want it to be. Just 31 points from the 66 available on our own patch is something to improve on next term. So too is our scoring record; drawing a blank in 45% of outings at the Lamex. It does have a lot to do with our struggles in the first half of the season, sure. But we’re also on a run of conceding at least once in each of our last five at the Lamex.
Let’s shut up shop for the summer early.
… and how are the Reds doing right now?
The Reds’ form is all over the shop. Looking at their results from the past month-or-so, it’s up and down at best. Two recent wins on the spin (away to Bradford and at home against Cheltenham) have given way to a defeat at Newport and a draw against Forest Green. So, we’re none the wiser about what sort of shape this team are in. Well, we can say that nine points from a potential 24 is worse than the current bottom two in the form table. But…
It’s unusual to come across too many sides with a worse record on the road than us. The Reds are, however, one such team; collecting 24 points from 22 fixtures on the road. For comparison, we have 25. It’s hard to read much into either of their Goals For and Against totals. They’re pretty unremarkable (52 v 55) in the grand scheme of things. Only our low totals for and against make them seem daunting. So, a classic mid-table clash awaits us.
Our story with Crawley Town so far
Our guests don’t need much of an introduction. We’ve known each other long enough. In fact, this is our 31st meeting; hauling them above Saffron Walden Town in our all-time list of sides we’ve played the most. It’d almost be historic if we weren’t the only ones keeping count. Anyway, it’s because we are keeping count that we can tell you that we’ve won 15 of our past encounters with the Reds – compared to 10 that have gone the other way.
It’s a moot point to look at when they last won two-in-a-row against us. Thanks to our 1-0 win at their place in February, we’re hoping to complete our first league double over them since the 2018-9 season – and our third since we came up from the Conference. You can also say since they came up too; the Reds in the habit of following Boro’ up and down for 10 years now. Are they waiting for us to make the next move again? We’ll get onto it…
Last Time Out: Crawley Town 0-1 Stevenage, 16 February 2021
Who’s the referee in charge?
Now, let’s give you two interesting facts about Mr Bourne. First, his brother Jason is a CIA operative. Second, he’s only taken charge of a Boro’ game once before; the only match to pull a crowd at the Lamex this season.
This is where we have to ‘fess up. Just one of those two facts is actually true. You’re most welcome to choose which one you think. Or even prefer. But we can talk at relative length about one of them. If it still doesn’t ring a bell, we can’t blame you. It was our bore draw at home to the Shrimpers in December. And it wasn’t exactly the highlight of the campaign.
For Mr Bourne, his campaign is also almost complete; this fixture bringing him to a round 30. He’s reached for his pocket in all but one of the 29 to date, although 84 yellows is still fewer than three bookings per game on average. Reds? Just the two… so far?
Last Time Out: Stevenage 0-0 Southend United, 05 December 2020
Stevenage v Crawley Town: Our verdict?
It’s the last home date of the season and all bets are off. To hell with it – 5-0 home win.