Crewe Alexandra vs Chesterfield Prediction 02.09.2025 | EFL Trophy

What began as a dazzling start to the season with four wins from as many league outings has quickly faded for Lee Bell’s men, who now head into their midweek test on the back of successive defeats to Gillingham and Swindon, failing to find the net in either contest.

Crewe’s involvement in the EFL Cup was cut short in mid-August after a 3-1 loss to Stockport in the opening round, though the early exit may ultimately prove beneficial as it frees them to concentrate fully on their league duties and the EFL Trophy.

The Railwaymen last stood on the EFL Trophy podium back in the 2012-13 season, but their subsequent campaigns have been largely forgettable, failing to progress beyond the second round, and in six of the last nine editions they couldn’t even make it past the group stage.

The only player unavailable to help his team in Wednesday’s clash is young midfielder Joel Tabiner, who is struggling with a ligament injury, and it’s unclear when he will return to the pitch.

Meanwhile, Chesterfield sit just one point above their Wednesday rivals in the League Two table, a position earned thanks to a dramatic comeback over the weekend, where they clawed back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a valuable 2-2 draw against Crawley.

The Spireites, much like their Crewe counterparts, were forced to bow out of the EFL Cup in the opening round a little more than two weeks ago after a two-goal loss to Mansfield, but they enter this next cup campaign determined to deliver a far more convincing display.

After an impressive start to the League Two season with consecutive shutouts, the Blue-Whites have since found it tough to contain their rivals, letting in 12 goals over their past five matches—a statistic that raises some concern.

Midfielder John Fleck, 34, will miss out as he continues to recover from a shin injury, but he is the only absentee, meaning Chesterfield head into the EFL Trophy opener with almost a full squad.