Rochdale vs Crawley Town - League Two

The history between Rochdale and Crawley Town lends this League Two fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on August 22, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. The defender has entered the third year of his scholarship agreement, and United have hoped to tie Kukonki down to a professional contract, which was initially agreed last year.

Positionally there is a clear hierarchy: Rochdale sit 24th, Crawley Town lie 23rd, but the League Two has a habit of defying such logic. Rochdale are still searching for momentum, DLWLL in their last five and a season win rate of just 16.67%. The visitors arrive short of confidence, LLDLW in their last five and a season win rate of just 16.67%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Rochdale average 0.83 per game to Crawley Town's 1, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. A young right-back is another position City are interested in adding in, while, in terms of outgoings, goalkeeper James Trafford is close to joining Leeds so will need to be replaced.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Rochdale will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Crawley Town must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. But the Greek winger believes the mentality Arsenal are showing in pre-season is a sign they are ready to defend their crown.

Individual quality could tip the balance. The league's leading scorer A. Newby, with 6 goals to his name this season, is a reminder of the firepower on display. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. City have now set an asking price of at least £70m for their star midfielder.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. On balance, Crawley Town may just have enough to take all three points. A 1-2 away win would not be a shock. With positions in the League Two table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.