Crawley Town travel to Sutton United on Saturday for a huge League Two tier which is a must win for both sides. We caught up with manager Scott Lindsey for his thoughts on that game, Danilo Orsi reaching 20 goals, Jay Williams' suspension, FA Cup replays being scrapped and being linked with the Stevenage job.
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00:00 Scott, thank you for joining us. A very exciting game to look forward to this weekend, another
00:06 local derby as we travel to Sussex. Can I get your thoughts ahead of that one?
00:09 Yeah, like you say, a big game for both clubs' minds. Obviously, we're in a position where
00:19 at the start of the season you'd have snapped anyone's hand off to be in this position.
00:23 So it's great because we've got something to play for, with two games to go. We find
00:28 ourselves in the play-off. So it's good for us and not so good, unfortunately, for Sutton
00:35 down the road. They obviously need the points for different reasons. It's going to be a
00:41 very, very tough game.
00:43 Yeah, we've got plenty of time to reflect on this season. When the season's finished,
00:48 obviously it's no end in finish for us. We look to be extended last season. But when
00:51 you look back to last season, I know in theory we had three games to go, but this game for
00:57 Sutton is almost exactly what we had away at Hartlepool. So we know how much it's going
01:01 to mean to them. We proved how hard we were to beat at that time last year. So we can't
01:06 underestimate them, can we, at all?
01:07 No, of course not. They've got everything to play for. I'm sure that they'll make a
01:13 hard game of it. We've just got to really focus on what we've got to do, play our way
01:19 and be really good at playing our way. I'm sure if we do that we'll be fine. But like
01:25 I say, it's all positive from our point of view and really difficult from their point
01:31 of view. We were in that position this time last year and we know what it's like. We had
01:37 to hold our nerve, we had to be really focused and I'm sure they will be as well.
01:41 You've obviously had a bit more time to reflect on the Choosing Knights game. Is there anything
01:44 else that you've noticed or assessed in the day since?
01:48 Yes, on reflection I think that we did as much as we could to win the game, certainly
01:56 in the second half. I think we probably missed opportunities to create more in the first
02:00 half, mind. But sometimes you've got to give the credit to the opposition. I thought they
02:05 defended their box really well or defended territory really well on the pitch. We did
02:12 speak about a few things at half-time about how we can move their shape about a little
02:17 bit and create more spaces, which I think the players did really well in the second
02:21 half. I thought the keeper had a really good game but then again, as did ours, he saved
02:27 us on a number of occasions again. But listen, we dominated the game against a really good
02:34 side. We had a higher xG than they did, so we did everything possible to win the game.
02:42 But I did feel that in the first half we could have asked a little more questions of them
02:46 than we did.
02:47 How has the squad come through? Obviously it's been a busy run, we're approaching the
02:51 final two games of the regular season. So how have the squad come through the last few
02:55 games?
02:56 Yes, really good. The boys have had cryotherapy unit turn-up today, so we've had them all
03:02 in there, which kind of enhances the recovery, which is obviously why we've done that. But
03:10 there's a few aches and pains and stiff bodies in there. But yes, come Saturday we'll be
03:18 ready to go again.
03:19 The meeting camp seems to be really, really hot at the moment. The players have obviously
03:23 been training here for the last week or so. Is there anything that you put that down to
03:27 specifically or is it just the excitement of these two big games coming up?
03:30 I think that when you're with two games to go and you're in the play-off position that
03:36 we're in and we know what we've got to do, we know what's in front of us, I think it
03:41 is exciting. I think we would rather have this than not have nothing to play for. We'd
03:46 rather have this than be mid-table and just seeing these last two games out. I think the
03:52 players are really embracing that and enjoying that. You can feel that around the building.
03:58 The players are really, like I say, really embracing it.
04:01 Yes, you can feel the energy around the building and you'll certainly be able to feel the energy
04:04 around the stadium on Saturday as well. We've sold in advance of 1,000 away tickets. We
04:09 could be approaching, I've been told, our record away attendance at Elite Fixture as
04:14 a club in the EFL, which would obviously be an incredible achievement. We've seen some
04:19 great performances from the fans as well as the players away from home this year and we'll
04:22 be hoping for that.
04:23 I can't wait to walk out and see them. I really can't. It's amazing when you see a big following
04:30 away from home. I know we're only down the road, it's not too far in terms of distance
04:33 but it's great to see that. I'll be certainly going over there and showing my appreciation
04:38 before the game and hopefully we'll be celebrating three points after the game with them. I'm
04:43 looking forward to that, really looking forward to it.
04:45 Thanks, Scott. Obviously, a huge game for both sides. With Sutton, they're fighting
04:51 for their lives. They're going to have to come out and come at you to win the game because
04:55 that's their only option. Do you think that suits your team more rather than the team
04:58 that sits back like Barrow the other night?
05:00 Yes, I think so. I think when we watched Wrexham, the Wrexham game kind of did similar.
05:07 But Ed Real kind of attacking prowess as well. We were really clinical in four moments but
05:13 we had all the ball at Wrexham. We found that hard to break down and certainly Barrow was
05:19 similar to that. The second half against Colchester was difficult to break down as well. Obviously,
05:27 Sutton, like you say, have to come out and if they do, there'll be more spaces. So, like
05:33 you say, it may suit us better and I actually agree with that.
05:40 Last year, we referenced the Hardipool game already, similar time of the season, obviously
05:44 different on four teams. You gave quite a stirring speech before the Hardipool game.
05:49 You used the footage of the Hardipool manager saying what he said. Is there anything you've
05:53 got lined up?
05:54 I'll let you know, I speak like that nearly every game.
05:58 Fair enough. Is there anything you're going to say different this week?
06:05 No, not really. We prepare the team in detail and we go through clips of them and we'll
06:14 show clips of ourselves. We have meetings where we have tactics boards, electronic tactics
06:22 boards and we'll explain certain actions that we want from the team. I'm not big on changing
06:29 because it's such a big game. I'm not really big on that. A lot has been said for us to
06:34 do something different. We like doing the same thing. I think that's important that
06:38 the players really stay focused.
06:40 Talking of players, Orsi got his 20th goal on Tuesday night. We didn't really ask you
06:45 about it after the game but what an achievement that is for him and what great seasons he
06:48 had. What do you think has been the secret of his success this year?
06:52 Like he would tell you, he's played a lot of games. Obviously that helps when you play
06:57 the number of games that he's played. Not just because he's been on the pitch for minutes,
07:03 the fact that he's been on the pitch and improved himself. I think obviously the more games
07:07 you play the better you become. I think he's got the attitude to improve and we've seen
07:14 that on the training ground. He wants to do extras all the time. He's worked really closely
07:19 with Karl Larriman in terms of body positions, how he approaches the box, how he addresses
07:28 the ball when it comes into him. Very, very fine detail of kind of like a striker coach
07:35 in a way. Karl's been to him and I think Danilo's taken all that information on board and executed
07:45 it really, really well. He's a great lad, he works his absolute socks off and I'm really
07:50 pleased that he's got 20. Not that that was his target, I don't know, we've not really
07:55 spoke about targets for him but I'm sure he'll want more and I'm sure he'll get more.
08:02 And Jay Williams as well, talked a lot about him on Tuesday night, misses these last two
08:06 games. How is he doing, how has he reacted to that? Obviously disappointed but it must
08:11 be hard for him missing these two games.
08:13 Yeah, he's disappointed. I think he's disappointed because of the way it happened. I think it's
08:20 been unfair for him. I really do think it's been unfair for him. I think you look at the
08:27 yellow card that he got at Newport, he did nothing wrong again then. Will Wright makes
08:34 the tackle around the halfway line and Jay happens to be there and falls over the lad
08:39 and gets booked. I do feel that people are targeting him and I felt Barra players were
08:47 targeting him, maybe from information from Don Telford, maybe, I don't know. But I did
08:56 feel that they were targeting him to get him booked or sent off or something because he
09:00 has got that winning mentality which sometimes can overspill, which is nothing wrong with
09:09 that let me say because we kind of want them characters in my team. But yeah, sometimes
09:18 he can overspill. I think early part of the season there were times when he got booked
09:23 and I was disappointed with him but I certainly don't think that is the case at the latter
09:26 part of the season. I think he has really learnt his lesson and he has actually gone
09:30 about his business really, really professionally and done it well. I think it's just hard on
09:35 him and I don't think it's fair if I'm honest with you.
09:38 The club earlier today put out their voting for the season, there was the goal of the
09:42 month competition, there's 10 great goals. Is there any particular goal that you pick
09:46 out this year that has been like that?
09:49 Yeah, Ronan Darcy, like a volley at Grimsby and the reason why I picked that goal was
09:56 because it was a team goal. It went from Corey Adai all the way through the team, like a
10:01 ridiculous pass from Liam Kelly into Ben Gladwin, Gladwin drives with it, plays it wide and
10:08 then Liam Kelly runs into the box, plays to Liam, Liam crosses it, Darcy volleys it in,
10:15 I don't know if you remember it. It was an unbelievable goal in terms of a team goal
10:18 because we played from Corey to the back of the net in about 7 seconds without Grimsby
10:23 getting anywhere near it. So for me, because it's the team, I think that's my favourite goal.
10:28 Excellent and you think that all sums up the way you play?
10:30 Yeah, I think so. I think it sums up how I want to play. I think people get kind of
10:39 misconstrued with possession-based teams. We are but we're quite aggressive with it,
10:47 we try and play through the pitch really quickly at times. I know that there's an opposition
10:50 out there that's trying to stop you from doing that and that's when you can't play quickly
10:54 and you've got to play around the back and find a different way to probe. But that action
10:59 there is kind of how you want to play all the time, is can you get through the pitch
11:03 quickly, can you play from back to front in 3, 4, 5 passes and be really efficient with
11:10 your play and then kind of create a goal-scoring opportunity off the back of it. Yeah, so it's
11:17 a fantastic goal but I think it kind of highlights how I want my team to look.
11:25 Yeah, we've had the news today that the FA have confirmed that there will be no replays
11:30 in the FA Cup after the first round, so obviously that's gruelling. What are your views on that
11:34 and not having replays next year?
11:36 Well I think two views really. I think from a football club's point of view, probably
11:41 a loss of revenue if there was to be replays. I think there's obviously an opportunity for
11:46 clubs to earn a bit more money. But selfishly, from a football point of view, I'm okay with
11:56 it because we play a lot of games. We're on 51 games we've played now this season, which
12:02 is a hell of a lot. We've got two to go. So obviously we finish on 53 games, which is
12:07 a lot of games. And for clubs who have got very little squads, I think it's a big ask
12:13 for football clubs of this size to play that amount of games and keep the players fit throughout
12:25 the season. I think it's difficult. I think we've been lucky because we've got fantastic
12:29 physios, we've got a fantastic strength and conditioning coach here. I think it's 97%
12:37 player availability this season. And that is down to the work we do on the training
12:41 ground, the work we do in the gym and me having fantastic staff. So a lot of credit has got
12:47 to go to that. But it's been a long season, it's been hard. So my answer would be I'm
12:51 happy with it because I just think that there's too many games already.
12:55 And finally, this time of year you see managers losing their jobs. Steve Vinice yesterday
13:01 they lost Steve Evans to Robert. Your name has come up already in the betting odds for
13:06 Steve Vinice, a second favourite. It must be a compliment that your name is being put
13:11 out there so high and it must be testament to the job you've done this year. I think
13:16 you're probably going to have a busy summer of phone calls.
13:18 Thank you. No, listen, Steve Evans has done a brilliant job there hasn't he? Getting moved
13:25 to Rotherham. I think he was there before wasn't he? He was at Rotherham before. So
13:28 a club that he's familiar with. You know, listen, at the end of the day, like I've said
13:33 before, when you've had a certain amount of success with what we've done this season,
13:42 it's normal for there to be interest from other clubs. It's just normal. I think that's
13:45 kind of part of the industry. Same at the other end, if you're not doing so well, there's
13:50 a big chance you're going to get the sack. And that's normal. It's just part of the industry.
13:54 So it's nice to be recognised I suppose or linked. But my focus is it.
14:01 Lovely. Thanks Scott. Thank you.