Crawley Town vs MK Dons: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

Broadfield Stadium hosts Crawley Town and MK Dons in the first leg of the League Two Play-offs Semi Finals. Both sides need a statement win to take into the second leg as they eye a spot in the Play-off Final at Wembley.

Date: 07/05/2024

Kick off time: 15:00

Location: Broadfield Stadium

Crawley look to set themselves up for a return to League One after eight seasons whereas MK Dons look to return straight back to League One after one season away from the third tier.

Crawley finished the League Two season in seventh after 46 games. The Red Devils picked up 21 wins, seven draws and 18 losses, leaving them on 70 points, just one point above Barrow and within the Play-offs.

The Red Devils haven’t competed in the Play-offs in any of their recent promotion campaigns. The double promotion from the Conference to League Two and to League One saw Crawley finish top of the Conference and then finish third in League Two. However, since their relegation back to League Two in 2015, the closest Crawley have come to Play-off football was a 12th place finish in 2022.

MK Dons, however, finished the League Two season fourth. In 46 games, The Dons picked up 23 wins, nine draws and 14 losses which left them on 78 points, eight points away from automatic promotion.

The Dons have also not competed in the Play-offs in their short history. Their promotion from League Two back in 2008 saw MK Dons finish top of the league, avoiding the hassle of the Play-offs. The only other promotions for The Dons were a second place finish in League One in 2015 and a third place finish in League Two in 2019.

Crawley and MK Dons have met just eight times in their histories, with the first meeting coming as recently as 2012. MK Dons have the marginally better record in the fixture with five wins in comparison to Crawley’s three wins, the other two games ending in a draw.

The last five games in this fixture have seen three wins for MK Dons, one win for Crawley and one draw. This tends to be a low-scoring affair, with the last three games all having three or less goals.

Crawley Town Team News

Scott Lindsey could be without just Ben Gladwin this weekend.

MK Dons Team News

Mike Williamson also could only be missing one player, that being Matthew Dennis for this weekend.

In their last five games in all competitions, Crawley Town have one win, two draws and two losses.

Klaidi Lolos did get on the scoresheet for Crawley, but it was only in the 94th minute as a consolation goal against Wrexham. A brace from Paul Mullin and goals from Ryan Barnett and Andy Cannon gave Wrexham the 4 - 1 win.

Tom Hopper opened the scoring for Colchester just after the 20 minute mark but Lolos equalised before the halftime mark. Cameron McGeehan regained the lead for Colchester on the stroke of halftime and Hopper scored again just one minute into the second half. Samson Tovide was shown a red card late on for Colchester and although Harry Forster did score for Crawley but it was too late as Colchester held on for the 3 - 2 win.

Crawley were behind again against Barrow with Emile Acquah finding the back of the net in the 36th minute. However, Danilo Orsi converted his penalty in the second half to level the game. Despite having 71% of the possession, Crawley couldn’t find another goal and had to settle for a 1 - 1 draw.

It was another draw for Crawley, this time against Sutton. Liam Kelly gave Crawley the lead at halftime but Charlie Lakin drew Sutton level just minutes into the second half. Olly Sanderson put Sutton ahead with ten minutes to go, but another late goal from Lolos grabbed a 2 - 2 draw for Crawley.

The last time out for Crawley was against Grimsby. Orsi and Lolos both scored in the first half to give Crawley the 2 - 0 win.

In their last five games in all competitions, MK Dons have two wins, two draws and one loss.

Max Dean opened the scoring for MK Dons in the first half but Sam Austin brought Notts County level in the first half added time. Alassana Jatta then gave Notts County the lead just three minutes into the second half but a brace from Ellis Harrison gave MK Dons the 3 - 2 lead with five minutes to go. However, Aaron Nemane scored in extra time to force the 3 - 3 draw.

The trip to Forest Green Rovers saw Dean on the scoresheet again in the first half. Alex Gilbey added another goal early in the second half to give MK Dons the 2 - 0 win.

Dean was yet again scoring for MK Dons, this time in the 13th minute but Elliott Hewitt equalised for Mansfield before halftime. A brace from Davis Keillor-Dunn and a goal from James Gale in the second half gave Mansfield the 4 - 1 win.

Gilbey and Dean were on the scoresheet in the first half against Harrogate Town but goals from Abraham Odoh and George Thomson made it level at halftime. Another goal from Thomson gave Harrogate the lead early in the second half but goals from Stephen Wearne, Emer Tezgel and Harrison gave MK Dons the 5 - 3 win.

The most recent outing for MK Dons was against Sutton United. Jack Payne, Gilbey, Tezgel and Harrison all scored for MK Dons but a brace from Stephen Duke-McKenna and goals from Lakin and Harry Smith forced a 4 - 4 draw.

Despite their poor form of late, Crawley are likely to pick up a win. However, both sides are also likely to be on the scoresheet. Crawley Town 2 - 1 MK Dons.

Crawley Town vs MK Dons will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event in the U.K. and can also be followed online on BBC Sport or Sky Sports.

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