In what could prove to be a pivotal clash in the hunt for promotion, Crewe Alexandra are set to host Notts County in League Two on Saturday at Mornflake Stadium in their 15th league match of the 2024-25 campaign.
The Railwaymen are fifth in the division with 25 points and drew 1-1 with Walsall on November 9, whereas the visitors are third with 27 points after 15 games and drew 1-1 with Doncaster Rovers last Saturday.
Match preview
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Crewe Alexandra's clash against second-placed Walsall was a close affair, though it should be noted that Walsall failed to create any big chances from their 12 shots while Crewe created two big chances from just three attempts.
In their prior match on November 2, the hosts exited the FA Cup after losing 1-0 against fifth-tier side Dagenham & Redbridge as a result of Dion Pereira's 73rd-minute penalty.
Lee Bell has been in charge of the club since November 2022, and this term his team have scored 17 goals and conceded 13 times, and these are the division's joint 14th best offensive and joint fourth best defensive records respectively.
Bell's side are in mixed form of late considering they have won two, drawn three and lost one of their six most recent games, though they have only conceded five goals in that period.
The Railwaymen have only lost once in the league since August 24, winning seven and being held to a stalemate on a further four occasions.
Crewe's recent home form is strong, with the club emerging victorious in four of their last five matches in League Two at Mornflake Stadium, keeping three clean sheets in those fixtures.
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As for their Notts County, they will perhaps be disappointed with their draw against fourth-placed Doncaster given they had taken the lead after just 13 minutes but succumbed to a 73rd-minute equaliser and were forced to settle for a point.
The visitors did win 1-0 against Leicester City-U21s in the EFL Trophy in their last outing on Tuesday, though they failed to create any big chances in that game.
Much like Crewe, the Magpies have only conceded 13 times in League Two but they have netted an impressive 23 goals, and this makes them the league's joint fourth best offensive side.
Boss Stuart Maynard described the match against Doncaster as very open, but ultimately praised both teams for their performances, saying in the aftermath: "The game kind of swung into two really good footballing teams going head-to-head."
Maynard will hope that his players can continue their unbeaten streak, with his side undefeated in their seven most recent games, emerging victorious in four of those outings.
Notts County have also not lost away from home in their last eight matches, although they have drawn their last three fixtures on the road.
Team News
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Crewe Alexandra are likely to deploy a back three in front of goalkeeper Filip Marschall, with centre-backs Jamie Knight-Lebel, Mickey Demetriou and Zac Williams probable candidates in defence.
Elsewhere, Max Sanders could anchor a midfield three featuring Matus Holicek and Joel Tabiner.
Bell may select a front two consisting of Shilow Tracey and Omar Bogle, though both were substituted against Walsall, and it remains to be seen if they complete the full 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, a number of first-team regulars could return to the starting lineup for Notts County from the side that beat Leicester in the EFL Trophy, with the likes of goalkeeper Alex Bass and centre-backs Lewis Macari, Matthew Platt and Jacob Bedeau almost certain to appear.
George Abbott and Matt Palmer played in a double pivot against Doncaster, and the pair can be expected to start on Saturday.
In attack, striker Alassana Jatta was rested against Leicester, but he will likely make a return alongside wingers Sam Austin and Jevani Brown.
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Marschall; Knight-Lebel, Demetriou, Williams; Cooney, Holicek, Sanders, Tabiner, Conway; Tracey, Bogle
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Bass; Macari, Platt, Bedeau; Tsaroulla, Abbott, Palmer, Gordon; Austin, Jatta, Brown
We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Notts County
Nott County have proven to be resilient away from home in recent games, and it is difficult to see how they lose on Saturday.
Additionally, while Crewe have the same defensive record as their opponents, their inferior offensive record may make them slight underdogs this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
