MK Dons vs Crawley Town tips and predictions: Leaky hosts to fall short of historic comeback

Crawley Town flew out the traps like the number five at Romford in the first leg of the League Two play-offs, only someone forgot to switch the little bunny off.

Scott Lindsey’s side were relentless for 90 minutes in their 3-0 first-leg win and probably chased the MK Dons coach back to Stadium MK.

We’ll be careful not to label any occurrence impossible in the play-offs, but the hosts have a mountain to climb and we can’t see them keeping a clean sheet.

Tuesday’s mauling was another desperately disappointing defensive display. After conceding four or more in their final three matches, the Dons didn’t click back into gear.

Town will admit to benefitting from some good fortune on the night, yet the momentum of the game was always with them and their work rate made them deserved winners.

Still, the visitors shaded the xG battle, and the tide was beginning to turn before Ronan Darcy’s deflected effort put some pretty gloss on the scoreline for the hosts.

The West Sussex club are by no means a defensive juggernaut and it isn’t really in their makeup to grind out games so the second leg could be a classic.

There were over 3.5 goals in their last five away matches and both teams scored in nine of their final 11. On the other hand, only two teams scored more home games than MK Dons.

They’ll have no choice but to push numbers forward, leaving them exposed at the back. That spells trouble, as no side allowed more counter-attack goals across the League Two season.

 

Suggested bets

MK Dons win and over 2.5 goals

Both teams to score

Over 3.5 goals