Crawley Town face a decisive EFL Trophy group match at home to Brentford U21 on Tuesday evening. A draw would likely be enough for the League Two side to progress to the round of 32.

Interim manager Kevin Blackwell has overseen a slight upturn in league form, collecting four points from his two matches in charge. However, the club's focus shifts to the cup following a disappointing 2-0 FA Cup exit to non-league Wimborne Town last Saturday. That result, a 2-0 loss on Sunday 8 November, leaves Crawley Town 24th in League Two with nine points from 12 games, having recorded two wins and three draws. Their recent form of one win, one draw and three losses in the last five league games, including a 1-1 draw with Tranmere and a 2-3 defeat to Shrewsbury, has left them three points adrift of safety ahead of a key league trip to Rotherham this weekend. They are also a significant 22 points behind the league leaders, Salford City. The team has scored 13 goals and conceded 21 this season, giving them a goal difference of minus eight.

Group H standings

Crawley Town and Brentford U21 are level on three points in Southern Group H, with Crawley holding a superior goal difference. The hosts opened their EFL Trophy campaign with a 4-0 win over Bromley, while the Bees' youth side beat Bournemouth U21 4-3 and Wycombe Wanderers U21 2-1 in other competitions. Brentford U21, who are 14th in Premier League 2, were thrashed 7-1 by Milton Keynes Dons in their last EFL Trophy outing.

"Crawley will be optimistic given they are facing a youth side, but fans will be wary after seeing their team stunned by a Southern Premier Division South club in the FA Cup," the club said in its match preview.

Blackwell is expected to field a strong side, with Danilo Orsi leading the attack after scoring the winner against Oldham in a 1-0 victory on Saturday 31 October. The likely lineup includes goalkeeper V. Mannone and a midfield of C. Barker and J. Arthurs. The club's full squad list is available online.

Brentford U21's possible lineup features R. Rose in goal and forward Isaac Holland. Their manager will hope his young side can recover from a 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 last Friday.

Tuesday's match kicks off at 19:30 at Broadfield Stadium, with Crawley's immediate focus then turning to a vital league fixture at Rotherham on Saturday 14 November, a match against the side sitting 22nd in the table.