Crewe Alexandra vs Peterborough United preview: How to watch, kick-off time, team news, predicted lineups and ones to watch

Crewe Alexandra will once again be tested by the very best, as table-toppers Peterborough United visit Gresty Road on Saturday. The Alex have played five of the current top six already this season, without picking up a point or scoring a single goal.

The Railwaymen also come into Saturday's game after three consecutive 1-0 defeats, a worrying statistic for Crewe, who started the season relatively well.

Peterborough are on the other side of the spectrum and sit three points clear at the top of the table, scoring more goals in three game than The Alex have scored all season.

The Posh are unbeaten in their last eight games, accumulating 22 points from a possible 24 in the process.

Team news

The hosts have no fresh injury concerns heading into Saturday's game and will be hoping to be more clinical against a Posh side, who will pounce.

Peterborough opted to rest most of their first-team squad on Tuesday night's Football League Trophy defeat to Cambridge, giving his usual starting lineup a well-earned break.

The Posh will be without Jack Taylor and Nathan Thompson, who will miss Saturday's clash because of an international call-up and an injury respectively.

Predicted lineups

Crewe Alexandra:

Jaaskelainen, Ng, Offord, Beckles, Pickering, Wintle, Lowery, Ainley, Powell, Mandron, Kirk.

Peterborough United:

Pym, Mason, Beevers, Kent, Ward, Brown, Hamilton, Butler, Szmodics, Clarke-Harris, Dembele.

Ones to watch

For the hosts, wide-man Charlie Kirk will certainly be a threat on the left flank. The academy graduate is a player that will drive at the opposition and is always looking to create goal-scoring opportunities.

Kirk played a massive part in Crewe's promotion from League Two last year, providing more assists than any other player in the division. He has also started this campaign in similar form, scoring twice and providing a further three assists.

One player that has particularly stepped up since Ivan Toney's departure to Brentford, is forward Siriki Dembele. The 24-year-old has flourished in a more central role in the past couple of seasons and has a terrific calendar year.

In his 20 games in 2020, he has amazingly enough contributed 20 goals, including nine goals and 11 assists.

Previous meetings

The pair last met in the 2015/16 League One campaign, in a season where Crewe finished bottom and The Posh finished 13th, despite scoring the most goals that year.

Peterborough won both games against The Railwaymen that year and won the fixture at Gresty Road 5-1.

Manager's thoughts

Despite their last few results and the calibre of opposition come Saturday, Crewe boss David Artell is excited for the test:

"It is all down to the performance and if we can play well then we have a chance. We have shown that we can compete and now it is just a question of doing that little bit more to cross that line and make sure we get what the performance deserves.

“We went to Ipswich and battered them but ended up losing the game. We didn’t take our chances on the day and it was the same against Gillingham, so we know we have to improve on that score and continue to defend well.

“If we can do that then Peterborough will know they have been in a game. I am looking forward to it, it will be another good game of football because that is the way Darren (Ferguson) likes his teams to play."

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson was very complimentary towards Crewe and the way they operate as a football club.

Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, he said:

“I have watched Crewe’s recent games and trust me they could won two of those 1-0 defeats 5-0. They created so many chances, but they couldn’t finish. Their performances have been far better than their results would suggest.

“They are quite simply the best footballing side I have seen in League One this season. I have a lot of respect for the way they bring players through and the way they play.

“But we are travelling with a lot of confidence. We are on a great run and we can be a very difficult team to play against."