Crewe Alexandra host Chesterfield in the EFL Trophy, seeking to bounce back from recent defeats and replicate their 2013 triumph, with Lee Bell's troops facing a tough test against the Spireites, who are pushing for promotion. The team has experienced a dip in form on the League Two scene lately, whilst the Spireites are sat in one of two automatic promotion spots. Crewe's recent defeats to Gillingham and Swindon Town have raised concerns, but Lee Bell's troops are determined to turn their fortunes around. The Railwaymen were the pacesetters at the beginning of the 2025-26 term, producing a four-game winning streak between August 2 and August 19. However, they have since suffered setbacks, including a poor display at home versus Swindon Town on Saturday afternoon. Crewe need to take full accountability for their recent performances and work towards avoiding three straight competitive defeats for the first time since the conclusion of last season. The team is on a hunt to replicate the heroics of their predecessors, who won 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, 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. Chesterfield, on the other hand, are in no mood to simply settle for a spot in League Two, with the Spireites staking an early claim for a top-two spot in the fourth tier this term. The visitors 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. Back on the scoresheet after a significant injury layoff, Harry McKirdy bagged a first-half brace for the Red Devils at SMH Group Stadium on Saturday, but 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 of 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. 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 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, Reece Hutchinson will be looking to make an impact, while Conor Thomas will be aiming to dictate the tempo of the game in midfield. And with the Spireites pushing for promotion, this EFL Trophy clash promises to be an exciting encounter. So, can Crewe Alexandra overcome their recent slump and secure a crucial win, or will Chesterfield's push for promotion prove too strong? But one thing is certain - this match will be a thrilling contest between two teams with different objectives. Crewe's recent form has been a concern, but they have the talent and the determination to turn their fortunes around. The question is, can they do it against a strong Chesterfield side?