- Bristol Rovers have won five league games on the bounce, including their last three at home
- Crawley have only won three away games in League Two this season, drawing five and losing 13
- Crawley are on a run of two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five league fixtures
Rovers can claim the spoils
Bristol Rovers are red-hot favourites for their home clash against Crawley Town on Saturday and Steve Evans’ side will probably get the job done with the extra quality and superior form on their side.
The Pirates have won their last five games, including a 1-0 success at home to Fleetwood Town and a 3-2 victory at Harrogate Town. Evans has brought a fresh energy and intensity to the squad since he took charge in December 2025 and his high-press, attacking width system has turned Rovers into a team that overloads wide areas and then turns defenders quickly when they win the ball back.
Fabrizio Cavegn is their top scorer in League Two this term with 11 goals in 40 appearances but Ellis Harrison has chipped in with three of Rovers’ last nine goals in their past five fixtures. The visitors are strong on the counterattack and Harrison is one of a few players who can make things happen for the Pirates.
Crawley will try to keep it tight
Colin Kazim-Richards has been working a minor miracle to keep Crawley in the division in 2026, taking over in March and leading his side through a relegation dogfight that has seen them drop to 20th place in League Two with 37 points from 42 games.
The Red Devils are a compact unit that presses only in situations, playing a direct, vertical game when they have the ball and looking to punish the opposition when they force a turnover. That sets up a fascinating contest between an aggressive, pressing Rovers and a counter-punching Crawley.
Harry McKirdy leads the line with eight goals in 30 League Two fixtures and has scored two of the Red Devils’ last five, so he is their main outlet. But they only average 0.67 goals per away game while conceding 1.62 on their travels, so this has all the makings of a tight match.
Back the hosts to win
Bristol Rovers have won ten, drawn one and lost ten of their 21 home league games this season and sit 15th in the table with 52 points from 42 fixtures, which reflects their mid-table campaign.
Crawley have only won once and lost once in their last two away games, winning 2-0 against Newport County. But Rovers are on a five-match winning streak and should have enough momentum and quality to beat a side that can dig in.
The hosts have yet to beat Crawley in the last four meetings between the clubs, with Crawley winning three and drawing one, including a 4-0 home victory in League Two five months ago. The odds for a home win are 1/1, which are tempting, and we are going to take that as our main bet with a low-scoring affair likely. Back Total Score Under 2.5 at 1/1 and Both Teams to Score - No at 11/10, too, given Rovers’ recent defensive solidity and Crawley’s troubles away from home.
