Crawley Town fixtures 2020/21: The big matches to look out for

The Reds will have experienced competitive football again by the time the League Two season starts, as they are scheduled to face Millwall in the Carabao Cup and Gillingham in the EFL Trophy prior to the start of the League Two campaign.

The first round of fixtures in a season are often hard to predict, and this season should be no different with the first few matchdays to be played behind closed doors, but Crawley can expect a stern test from a Port Vale side who were seeking a play-off spot last season, only to cruelly miss out by one point when the season was curtailed.

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At the start of December the Reds visit Colchester United, who are another team tipped for a promotion coming off the back of an eventful season.

The Reds and the U’s both enjoyed remarkable runs in the Carabao Cup last season, before they met in the fourth round. Despite leading it was ultimately a night of disappointment and heartache for the Reds, as Colchester defeated Crawley 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals, where they lost to Manchester United 3-0. The U’s are another side hoping to bypass the playoffs, after an agonising extra-time defeat to Exeter City last season.

On the 12th of December Crawley Town welcome newly promoted Barrow AFC to the People’s Pension Stadium, with the Bluebirds looking to assert themselves as an EFL side after achieving promotion from the National League last season, ending a 48-year exile from league football. The National League champions, Barrow caught the eye for their stylish, brave brand of football and it will be interesting to see if they play the same way under a new manager in David Dunn and in a new league.

The other side promoted out of the National League last season was Harrogate Town AFC. This will be the Sulphurites’ first ever season in the EFL, as they will also look to solidify their EFL status. Simon Weaver will now be the longest-serving manager in the EFL, having taken over at Harrogate in May 2009, when they were in the sixth tier of English football.

In March Crawley will welcome Mansfield Town to the People’s Pension Stadium, with the Stags looking to finally reach League One, after many unsuccessful attempts in recent years, including a disappointing campaign last season, where they finished 21st. Mansfield have landed some big signings this transfer window, with Marek Stech, Farrend Rawson and Ollie Clarke among them, but at the same time some of Mansfield’s key players have also moved on, with Krystian Pearce and CJ Hamilton leaving the One Call Stadium.

Crawley’s final game of the season could yet be one of huge significance, as they host League Two title favourites Bolton Wanderers. Whatever the situation is at the time of that game, the Reds will have their work cut out for them against a Trotters side who will have last season’s top-scorer Eoin Doyle, just one of the many EFL stars in Bolton’s side next season.