Preview: Crewe Alexandra vs Chesterfield – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

On a mission to repeat their 2012-13 triumph, Crewe Alexandra welcome Chesterfield to Mornflake Stadium for an EFL Trophy clash on Tuesday night.

The Railwaymen have experienced a dip in form on the League Two scene lately, whilst the Spireites are sat in one of two automatic promotion spots at the conclusion of the summer schedule.

Match preview

Navigating their fourth straight campaign in the fourth tier of English football since finishing rock bottom of League One in 2022, Crewe Alexandra have made a positive start overall to their promotion push despite a worrying drop in form over the past week.

The Railwaymen were the pacesetters at the very beginning of the 2025-26 term – producing a four-game winning streak between August 2 and August 19 – however Tuesday night’s hosts have since suffered defeats to Gillingham and most recently Swindon Town.

Although the 1-0 loss at Priestfield Stadium at the hands of the Gills could be disregarded as a blip, Crewe need take full accountability for a poor display at home versus the Robins on Saturday afternoon, when first-half strikes from Gavin Kilkenny, Paul Glatzel and Aaron Drinan won the day for the West Country visitors.

Looking to avoid three straight competitive defeats for the first time since the conclusion of last season, the Railwaymen are on a hunt to replicate the heroics of their predecessors, with Tuesday’s hosts winning the EFL Trophy back in 2013 courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Southend United at Wembley Stadium.

Unable to rely on the attacking talents of last term’s leading marksman Jack Lankester at this stage, Lee Bell’s troops have shared goalscoring responsibility around their ranks, with Calum Agius, Conor Thomas and Reece Hutchinson all netting twice in League Two.

Following a sobering six-year spell outside of the Football League between 2018 and 2024, Chesterfield are in no mood to simply settle for a spot in League Two, with Tuesday’s visitors staking an early claim for a top-two spot in the fourth tier this term.

The Spireites have won four and lost just one of their opening six league matches in the 2025-26 season, making up for a shocking 4-1 defeat at Gillingham on August 19 by earning four points across two games against Harrogate Town and recently-relegated Crawley Town to conclude August.

Back on the scoresheet after a significant injury lay-off, Harry McKirdy bagged a first-half brace for the Red Devils at SMH Group Stadium on Saturday, however Chesterfield fought back valiantly to earn a 2-2 draw, with Dylan Duffy and Armando Dobra finding the net.

Firing home an impressive long-range strike to the despair Crawley last time out, Irishman Duffy has enjoyed a productive start to the 2025-26 season for the Spireites, scoring twice and providing three assists, meaning that he has already matched his tally of goal contributions from last campaign.

Interestingly, each of the last three meetings between Paul Cook’s men and Crewe have resulted in convincing victories for the away side, with Chesterfield scoring three times in the opening 12 minutes on their way to a 5-0 success during their most recent visit to Mornflake Stadium in August 2024.

Crewe Alexandra form (all competitions): W L W W L L

Chesterfield form (all competitions): W L W L W D

Team News

Crewe are expected to make a couple of changes from the XI which started the heavy defeat to Swindon on Saturday afternoon, with two players in serious danger of being dropped.

Operating at right-back and defensive midfield respectively, Lewis Billington and Jack Powell were hooked off at half time versus the Robins.

Following an error-ridden performance on the weekend, goalkeeper Tom Booth should be swapped out for 21-year-old Sam Waller.

Part of Ipswich Town’s historic double promotion from League One to the Premier League, defender Janoi Donacien currently finds himself in the Chesterfield medical room owing to a groin problem.

Spireites head coach Cook has a number of exciting attackers to call upon if he opts to rotate his side, including former Wigan Athletic favourite Will Grigg.

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Waller; Golding, Connolly, Demetriou, Hutchinson; Lunt, Sanders, O’Reilly, Tezgel, Agius; March

Chesterfield possible starting lineup:

Boot; Daley-Campbell, Dunkley, McFadzean, Gordon; Dibley-Dias, Strik, Markanday, Darcy, Duffy; Grigg

We say: Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Chesterfield

After their side’s poor performance at home to Swindon on the weekend, Crewe supporters will be fearing more of the same as high-flying Chesterfield visit in the EFL Trophy.

The Spireites have an impressive array of attacking options in their squad, meaning that even a rotated side could be too much to handle for the Railwaymen.

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