Crawley Town lost 4-3 to Lincoln City in the second round of the FA Cup at the Broadfield Stadium. Here is Rob Elliot's full post match press conference
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00:00Rob, thank you for joining us. Difficult to sum up really, isn't it, after going 2-0 up.
00:07You were thinking it was probably going to be an easy afternoon for us, but not to be.
00:10What was your overall reflection on the game?
00:12Yeah, I don't think it was ever going to be an easy afternoon against probably the best team we've played.
00:17One of the strongest squads as well.
00:19Started really well, everything we wanted to do we did, we did it really well.
00:23And then we sort of lost the way, scored the second goal, they stepped on, was even more direct.
00:28And we conceded poor goals, which we've been trying to cut out, which we have cut out from the crosses.
00:34But yeah, going at 2-2, we're down to the bare bones and I can accept that a little bit.
00:42And then going into the second half, just a start like that.
00:46I'm not going to criticise these lads because they've given us everything, but I think we know that's not acceptable for us.
00:52You've just got to start the game, you've got to start the first 10-15 minutes of any football game.
00:56It's a tactical battle and a physical battle where the ball is going to be a bit more intense.
01:00And to give them two goals, two very poor goals.
01:03We put ourselves in the back foot in a game which was pretty even.
01:05We dominated the first part of the first half, they finished stronger in the second half.
01:08They're always going to be a big threat from crosses, they're the best team in the league at it.
01:11So yeah, we shot ourselves in the foot and then we lost our way.
01:14And then what showed is when we actually got a bit of composure and moved the ball,
01:18and figured out that we don't have to pass through them, we can go over their press.
01:22We get the goal, put a bit more pressure on them in the last 15 minutes.
01:25They galvanised us, but we couldn't quite get the breakthrough.
01:27Fair play to Lincoln, I thought they deserved to win.
01:30They could have scored multiple times on the break.
01:33But yeah, I think we just have to look at it, use it for a review,
01:38but park it and move on to Tuesday because, like I said to the boys there,
01:42I'm extremely proud of what they've done.
01:44And one setback isn't going to allow us to make it two or three.
01:50At the end of the day, we finished strong, we're trying to score.
01:52So we've got to take that momentum and hopefully have more bodies packed for Tuesday
01:56and we can reset and go again.
01:57I'm glad you said the phrase bare bones because it really is.
02:00I think we told it before the game, I think we're up to nine injuries now.
02:03It may even be more than that.
02:05I think what fans can easily forget is that doesn't just translate to games,
02:08that translates to training as well.
02:10That means you've got less bodies to train, which means although, yes,
02:12we've had a full week on the training ground, we've got far less bodies.
02:15So the lads are going to be a bit more fatigued and they really are giving it their all out there.
02:19So it's not a great place that we're in at the moment in terms of squad health, is it?
02:24No, it's not, but we've been slightly on the bare bones.
02:27But because the lads have dug in, we're picking up results and stuff,
02:30it covers it up a little bit.
02:31But then obviously when you do lose, it's the first thing that's highlighted.
02:34But unfortunately we've had, well, obviously Swanee's unwell,
02:38but the rest of them are all pretty much impact injuries other than Junior who's recovering.
02:41So that's the part of this league where you get beaten up
02:44and we just need to make sure we're as robust as possible.
02:48This week we did have to monitor training and obviously adapt it slightly
02:53because of the injuries.
02:54We don't want to pick up any contacts in training, etc.
02:56But yeah, hopefully Tuesday will be a bit stronger.
02:58Pan should be back, Swanee at least, Das as well.
03:03So hopefully from Tuesday it looks a bit fresher and we can be fresher,
03:09ready to go again and continue the good run in the league.
03:12Yeah, considering we're going to have, by the sounds of it, some of those players back,
03:16it goes back to that old football cliche, doesn't it?
03:18When you come off the back of a defeat, you always want to get out of there straight away.
03:21So do you think Tuesday is the right time for us to play?
03:23What will be an exciting game against Charlton?
03:25Yeah, it'll be a really good game against a very tough opponent.
03:28Best defensive record in the league.
03:30Obviously scored for most from set pieces.
03:33So again, a club I know well as well from my time there.
03:36So it's going to be a really tough game.
03:38Playing Charlton at any time is a tough game,
03:39but going to the Valley as players, as supporters, as a club,
03:43it's a fantastic achievement for the club to be going to these places.
03:47I think we've got to embrace it and enjoy it and reset.
03:51Can't get too high, can't get too low.
03:53So you're not going to be too disappointed after today.
03:55What we've got to do is address the things that crept back into our game,
03:58but accept also we did play a very, very strong Lincoln team.
04:01So credit to them because I thought they did deserve to win.
04:04It's just a pity we couldn't capitalise on any chances at the end.
04:08Is there anything specific that you'll put out of the game today
04:11to take into training on Monday?
04:13Or is it just a general assessment?
04:15No, there's everything you can pull from games.
04:17I think probably our understanding of when we were up 2-0 up
04:21and they really jumped on us in the press and they went man for man
04:23and they vacated the middle and were really aggressive.
04:25We've got to understand when to play through the press or over the press
04:29and when to move it around.
04:31But that takes time.
04:32It's not going to be something that we get straight away.
04:34I think it's disappointing to see four because defence has been excellent
04:39and it's good that we've scored three.
04:41So you've got to take positives as well.
04:43I think probably with the squad being thin and games coming up,
04:46it's just a little bit of fatigue and everything in there.
04:49But the lads started really well, implemented everything we wanted to.
04:52We've just got to make sure now we fix what we need to fix
04:56but don't get too carried away by one defeat.
04:58Let's just realise where we're at as a squad.
05:00We'll have players back, we'll be stronger as a group and we'll go again.
05:04Ultimately, this is a cup fixture.
05:07It's great for the club to progress through the rounds as we spoke about
05:09but we now have the league to focus our full attention on
05:13and be ready for what's going to be a hard period after Christmas.
05:19Yeah, it doesn't stop, does it?
05:21No, it doesn't.
05:22The teams we have to play, we pretty much know we're running talks going into every game
05:25but we don't mind that at all.
05:26We did it last year, this group, and we'll do it again this year.
05:29But the reception from the fans after the game was brilliant.
05:32Walking around, everyone staying, clapping the lads.
05:34Basically, they give everything.
05:35Sometimes you fall short and that's okay
05:37because how many of them players have actually played at this level before?
05:40How many of them players have played this amount of games?
05:42That's what we have to do as a club because of where we are, our stature and that.
05:45That's what we've got to embrace by finding talent, working with them,
05:48working hard, staying consistent.
05:49There's still so many positives
05:51but we've just got to use today as a little reminder that once we come off it a little bit,
05:55you can get hurt.
05:56That's brilliant.
05:57Was it just the manner of the goals that was the most frustrating thing today?
06:02Yes, you don't want to concede goals.
06:04I actually spoke about it with the lads in the week
06:06when we played against the big clubs.
06:08When I played against, you're very fortunate,
06:11we played against City, United, Arsenal, all these teams.
06:13When you play against very good teams,
06:15because by the way, Lincoln are a very good team,
06:17you want them to score good goals
06:19and you can say that's because they're good players.
06:21They might be slightly better than us, maybe,
06:23but don't allow them to score goals that we can control.
06:26That's what we've done really well recently.
06:29We've kept clean sheets because we've done that.
06:31Maybe it's a nice little reminder for us
06:33that if we come off it a little bit,
06:35the back three have to play consistently
06:37because of the injuries and they've done it so well.
06:39Toby's really struggling with his back,
06:41he comes out every week for us,
06:42Charlie Barker and Joy.
06:44They get all the praise,
06:45I'm not going to tear them down because of one game,
06:47but it's a nice little reminder for Tuesday
06:49where we need to be more solid
06:51and where we need to make sure we just adapt and learn and go again.
06:54We saw the two changes at half-time,
06:56were they tactical or was that injuries?
06:58Yeah, a little bit of both.
06:59Ty was only penciled in for 45 as well.
07:02We just need to adapt for the second half,
07:06but obviously we didn't get a chance to see that
07:08because we conceded two straight away.
07:10Disappointing things from our kick-off.
07:12That's probably where we do need to get better
07:14in terms of simple instruction.
07:15We need to take it on, set pieces,
07:17defensively, attackingly, goal kicks,
07:19when we explain what we're doing it needs to be done properly.
07:22But sometimes you only learn from these things
07:25by being punished and that's the gravest lesson sometimes.
07:28The problem is we shot ourselves in the foot
07:31before we could even get back into the game or get going again
07:33because I thought there was some good stuff in the first half
07:36and you always have to deal with their fret
07:39because they're brilliant at what they do.
07:40And a word about Eddie Beach.
07:42I think it was a second start for Crawley.
07:44I thought you pulled off some great saves, didn't you?
07:46Yeah, it was excellent.
07:47Especially when we're losing the game,
07:50we're going forward, we're always going to be exposed
07:52and I thought it was excellent.
07:53I thought he defended the goal really well,
07:54he moved the ball really well
07:55and obviously he's been out for a while with his ankle.
07:57So, yeah, because of what happened with Jojo at Maidenhead
08:00we couldn't take the risk of Jojo getting another collision or an injury
08:03and Beachy deserved his opportunity
08:05because he's done well previously
08:06and he's done well since he's come in.
08:07So, no complaints with Beachy, I thought he did well
08:10and yeah, it's disappointing for him.
08:12I suppose he'll be disappointed with the result
08:14but yeah, I thought he was a positive today.