Accrington Stanley (home)
- Accrington Stanley are 15th in League Two, with 48 points from 39 games.
- John Doolan’s side typically set themselves up to be compact and hard to break down and try to play at a high tempo, winning the ball quickly and playing it forward.
- The emphasis is on set-pieces and balls into the box, which is where Tyler Walton and Isaac Heath will often provide support to the lone striker.
- Accrington Stanley have failed to win any of their last five League Two games, including a 4-0 home defeat to Notts County.
Crewe Alexandra (away)
- Crewe Alexandra, who have 63 points from 40 games, currently occupy the 7th position in League Two and are fighting for a play-off spot.
- Crewe have won back-to-back games to rejoin the play-off race (2-1 v Oldham, 4-0 v Shrewsbury).
- Lee Bell has installed a patient, youthful style of play that is a far cry from the direct approach Stanley have.
- Crewe dominate the ball, build from the back and play intricate, combination footy in the final third.
- When fit, Tommi O’Reilly is their main orchestrator, ranking high in assists, but they also have a clinical frontman.
Head-to-Head
Crewe Alexandra have won three of the last five League Two meetings with Accrington Stanley, all of which have been close affairs ( three matches decided by a single goal or less ).
Key Players
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Accrington Stanley:
- Patrick Madden is Accrington’s top goalscorer with six league goals this season.
- Tyler Walton and Isaac Heath often provide support to the lone striker from set-pieces and crosses.
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Crewe Alexandra:
- Josh March’s 11 league goals provide a reliable focal point in the penalty area.
- Emre Tezgel has chipped in with nine league goals this term.
Betting Insights
- Crewe’s recent results have been much better than Accrington’s and this will be a tough matchup for the hosts.
- Odds of 2.18 for Crewe are tempting, but I’d rather play a safer 1.7 on the Both teams to score - Yes market.
Prediction
It may be better to err on the side of the visitors in this one, given they are in better form, have the greater firepower and are more desperate for a win.
