Crawley Town vs Derby County Match Preview
Non-league club Crawley Town will be relishing the chance to perform in front of a primetime Monday night audience when they play host to Championship club Derby County.
Crawley are chasing promotion to the football league, and will be looking to claim a famous scalp in this game. The Blue Square Premier League side have stated they have no intention of rolling over for Derby, and even refused to let Derby captain Robbie Savage into the ground when he was there earlier this week in his role as a TV presenter.
The Ram zone website also reported that Crawley manager Steve Evans attacked Derby manager Nigel Clough in the buildup to the game, claiming Clough disrespected his club after he moved from Burton Albion to take the Derby job.
“Nigel Clough said when he got the Derby job it was great because he would never have to go to places like Crawley again. It was the most demeaning statement I have heard from a manager who has got a job at Championship level,” fumed Evans. “I think it is poetic justice that he got us in the Cup. It is on public record what he said but now he has to come back."
It seems certain Clough will be entering a hostile environment, and he will be facing the task without injured duo Miles Addison and Stephen Davies. Stephen Pearson is an injury doubt for the Rams, with Gareth Roberts likely to return.
OTHER FA CUP TIES THIS WEEKEND
Bolton Wanderers v York City
Bristol v Sheffield Wednesday
Burnley v Port Vale
Coventry City v Crystal Palace
Doncaster Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Fulham v Peterborough
Huddersfield Town v Dover Athletic
Hull City v Wigan Athletic
Norwich City v Leyton Orient
Preston North End v Nottingham Forest
Reading v West Bromwich Albion
Southampton v Blackpool
Stoke City v Cardiff City
Sunderland v Notts County
Swansea City v Colchester United
Torquay United v Carlisle United
Watford v Hartlepool United
West Ham United v Barnsley
Lincoln City will also host Hereford in a second round replay. The winner will travel to face Wycombe Wanderers in a third round tie on Tuesday night.