We make the long trip south to face Crawley Town as we continue our Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Morecambe will be looking to make amends in the league as they make the journey to the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday 3 February. The Shrimps will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways, after they were defeated by Colchester United last week.
A thunderous Arthur Read free kick in the 27th minute was the only goal at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, the score finishing 1-0 in the visitors’ favour on Saturday 27 January.
Crawley Town did not play at the weekend, after their scheduled trip to Wrexham was postponed due to FA Cup commitments for the host side. The last league fixture for the Red Devils came on Saturday 13 January, when they hosted Salford City, ultimately losing 1-0 following an 80th minute Kelly N’Mai goal.
The two sides last met in the March of 2021 at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium. On this day, an early goal from Cole Stockton and a Carlos Mendes-Gomes brace helped Morecambe on their way to a 3-1 victory, with a performance they will no doubt hope to replicate on Saturday afternoon.
The Opposition
The Red Devils have had a mixed start to their Sky Bet League Two campaign, with their 12 wins being matched by 12 losses. Along with their three draws so far this season, Scott Lindsey’s side find themselves on 39 points, sitting in the middle of the Sky Bet League Two standings in 12th.
Lindsey has been at the helm at the Broadfield Stadium since the January of 2023, after leaving his post at fellow League Two side Swindon Town.
Key Players
Centre-forward Danilo Orsi has been the pick of the bunch when it comes to goalscoring for the Red Devils, the 27-year-old bagging 15 goals in all competitions so far this season. The number nine was a summer signing for the Sussex side, following his departure from Grimsby Town.
Ex-Shrimps forward Adam Campbell has also proven to be an important part of Crawley Town’s campaign thus far, the 29-year-old scoring six and assisting another four in all competitions. Campbell was another summer acquisition for Lindsey, making the move to the Broadfield Stadium after having spent two seasons at Gateshead.
Ged Brannan’s Pre-Match Thoughts
Morecambe manager Ged Brannan spoke on the challenge ahead.
“We’ve said we’ve got to go there and get the three points,” he said. “It is going to be a tough place to go, they’re doing really well.”
“As I’ve been saying from day one, we’re a top team. When we’re on it, we are good enough to face anyone in the league.”
“Our away form has been quite good, so hopefully we can go there and get the three points.”
He went on to talk about the need to keep consistent in the league.
“To go to MK Dons and get three points, and then to lose at home was so disappointing,” he remarked. “We are going to have to get things right on Saturday to get things going again.”
The Man in the Middle
Dean Whitestone will be the man in charge on Saturday afternoon, the referee holding the cards for his 18th fixture of the season. 63 yellows and two reds make up the 65 cards he has brandished so far this season.
Whitestone last officiated a match involving the Shrimps in September 2022, when Morecambe made the trip to Bristol Rovers in a Sky Bet League One clash.
Daniel Leach and Matthew McGrath will run the line at the Broadfield Stadium, with fourth official Lee Swabey acting as the fourth official to complete the officiating team.
Team News
Stu Moore, Donald Love, and JJ McKiernan remain injured for the Shrimps, with their respective long-term injuries.
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