Preview: Crawley’s Tough Start Meets Swansea Test: Can The Reds Turn It Around?

Crawley Town will be hoping the EFL Cup offers a welcome distraction from their difficult League Two start when they face Championship side Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Reds began their league campaign with a 3-0 defeat at Grimsby Town before a 2-1 home loss to Newport County, leaving them still searching for their first points. After Saturday's loss, Crawley boss Scott Lindsey admitted he had yet to consider his squad for the cup tie, but changes to the starting XI are expected as he looks to freshen the side.

Swansea have had a mixed start themselves, opening their Championship season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough. Defensively organised but lacking attacking fluency, their struggles have been apparent since pre-season, with losses to Cheltenham Town, Exeter City, and French side FC Lorient. Head coach Michael Duff has favored a 4-2-3-1 setup with Liam Cullen leading the line, but Swansea have yet to find their attacking rhythm.

Last season, Swansea reached the second round of the EFL Cup, defeating Gillingham 3-1 before losing 1-0 to Wycombe Wanderers. The club's cup pedigree includes lifting the trophy in 2013,  the same year they last faced Crawley in competitive action, edging a 3-2 thriller at Broadfield Stadium thanks to a late Gary Monk goal.

Defensive Frailties and Blunt Finishing Leave Crawley Exposed

Two games into the season, early warning signs have emerged for Crawley. While their attacking play shows promise, defensive balance remains a major concern. Lindsey's wingbacks provide pace and width going forward but leave the flanks exposed when out of possession. Without specialist defensive wingbacks, opponents have exploited these wide areas far too easily.

Up front, Crawley's failure to finish has been just as costly. Across the first two matches, the Reds have created numerous gilt-edged chances but struggled to convert them. Against Newport, 18 shots (six on target) yielded just a single late consolation goal.

Lindsey has stuck with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, which demands discipline and work rate from wingbacks. Without the right personnel for those roles, Crawley risk being caught out on transitions and punished for missed opportunities.

Squad Struggles Persist Ahead of Swansea Clash

Injury woes are mounting early for Crawley. New signings Danny Cashman and Dion Pereira remain sidelined, while defender Ben Radcliffe is also out. Harry Forster, who started against Grimsby, was forced off after just 37 minutes, further depleting options on the flanks.

Forward Tola Showunmi remains a mystery, absent throughout pre-season and unavailable for the Newport match due to illness, with no updates on his status.

With key players injured, Lindsey confirmed no reinforcements are expected for Tuesday's cup tie.

"I don't think we'll have anyone back," he said.

"When you look at our wide players — Danny Cashman, Dion Pereira, and Harry Forster — all out injured, it's difficult to make changes in those areas.

"I thought Ade [Adeyemo] did well except for their second goal, but he was dead on his feet, so we had to take him off and put a striker in a wide position.

"The fans wanted a change on the other side, but I didn't have another experienced wide player to bring on who can play there properly.

"We're missing three big players who are goal scorers and creators, plus Ben Radcliffe, who's working hard to get fit. So no, no one will be coming back just yet."

Changes Expected Amid Limited Defensive Options

Crawley are set to field a noticeably different lineup from their opening League Two defeats as Lindsey searches for a winning formula.

Defensive options remain limited, with Joy Mukena likely to earn his first start, potentially replacing Conroy — with age possibly a factor in that decision. Younger defenders Charlie Barker and Josh Flint are expected to keep their spots.

In midfield, Max Anderson, who scored Crawley's late goal against Newport, will likely start alongside Jay Williams, with Kyle Scott and Louie Watson operating just ahead to add creativity and energy.

Wide positions remain open, with Ade Adeyemo, Harry McKirdy, Antony Papadopoulos, and Fate Kotey all competing for starts.

Up front, Louis Flower could get his first full chance as lone striker after impressing in previous appearances.

Score Prediction

After a tough start, this match offers Crawley a perfect chance to claim their first win. An underdog victory isn't impossible, just as they famously upset Leeds in the FA Cup, but results could swing wildly. For travelling fans, it might be a thrilling narrow win or, based on recent form, a heavy defeat.

That said, optimism prevails. The Reds are predicted to edge a 2-1 win over a much-changed Swansea side, booking their place in the next round.