It's been a busy week for Crawley Town and now they are preparing to face Wrexham at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday. Here Rob Elliot looks ahead to game and gives an update on transfers and injuries
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00:00Off Tuesday night's win, we prepare for a very tough test at home on Saturday as
00:03Wrexham visit the Broadfield Stadium. Can I get your thoughts ahead of that game?
00:06Yeah, no, so obviously an end to a tough long week, two tough long way travels
00:10and yeah, looking forward to getting back at the Broadfield in front of the
00:14fans and obviously what's going to be, yeah, I suppose Wrexham's probably one of
00:18their standout games for most teams because of obviously the club itself and
00:25what they've done the last few years. So, no, it'll be a good
00:29occasion for us and obviously hopefully in front of a packed out stadium we can
00:33add to what we've done Tuesday in terms of
00:39Saturday and make sure that we give ourselves the best
00:42opportunity to win the game because Wrexham are a very good team,
00:46they've consistently done very well the last three years, they've got a
00:50winning culture with two promotions etc which you know about from last year but
00:55obviously they've had a couple of difficult results so I know that
01:00they'll obviously be chomping at the bit themselves so yes, it'll be a tough game
01:03regardless and one that we need to be really switched on for and more
01:08importantly regardless of Wrexham is continuing to stand as we said on
01:11Tuesday, you know, that was pretty much back to where we wanted to be, where we
01:14were before Christmas and I think that that crazy Christmas
01:17period and a bit of inconsistency, hopefully get back to having some
01:21consistency in our play and attack the game in the best way.
01:24Yeah, you mentioned after the game at Stockport that you know potentially
01:28there were some things that were gonna have to change if we were looking to get
01:31results and you know there's been a certain way that we've been playing, was
01:34there anything on Tuesday night that you did differently that is now
01:37evident that we may have to continue doing because as you say that the
01:41performance level was so high? Yeah, it was, I think Stockport, listen, let's be
01:44honest with you, Stockport, they're in the top five for a reason and they just
01:48outpowered us, you know, and we just didn't cope with the physicality and we
01:52didn't give ourselves a chance and I think probably what I've done is, you
01:55know, you come away from the game and you're frustrated and you're angry and
01:59disappointed and all the things that you are but when I reflected is like these
02:02players have been giving us everything and I think we probably let ourselves
02:05down as a group a couple occasions and I thought Saturday we did against
02:08Stockport but what they have done is every time that's happened they've shown
02:10a reaction and the reaction Tuesday was excellent but my message to the players
02:14was that you know we have an identity, we want to play a certain way and my
02:17personal belief is that we don't come away from that so you know we went all
02:21in on our possession, all in on the play, all in in terms of the way we want to
02:25manipulate the ball, how we're going to get into areas to affect teams and
02:29re-established how we're going to be effective out without the ball in terms
02:33of our energy, our work rate, our press and I thought we did exceptionally well.
02:36I thought the first half was cagey but we stuck to the task really well, dealt with
02:41the balls in the box which we knew would come and then second half we just
02:46got better and better as the game went on and we wore them out and the chances
02:49kept coming and kept coming and what I liked is that we didn't take the setbacks
02:52of the keeper making saves and missing opportunities, we kept pushing for the
02:56goal and yeah eventually got it and then held out at the end and obviously
02:59Charlie's bit of magic on the line got us through the three points.
03:04Yeah and it was Charlie actually mentioned post-game as well that the
03:08players have often spoke about how if you know we can get towards the sort of
03:12half-time stage at nil-nil, let's not be at least out of the game by then, we know
03:16we will wear teams down and you know chances will start to come which was
03:20evident on Tuesday night so not only I suppose will this win on Tuesday give
03:24the attackers confidence, it's also going to give the defence a lot of confidence as well isn't it?
03:28Yeah I think what Charlie's saying is correct as in like too many times the
03:31games you know Barnsley, Stockport you know a 2-0 down or 3-0 down before we can
03:35even get a foothold in the game so absolute worst case nil-nil at half-time
03:39for us knowing that we all have high possession and that we wear teams down
03:42in terms of the way we play you know that should be the minimum requirement
03:45we want to get to. Ideally you know we're scoring goals before that which we have
03:47done in previous games but yeah I think it's setting a base for ourselves and
03:51giving ourselves an opportunity not letting the game get away from us and I
03:55thought that's what we did really well on on Tuesday night so look we need to
03:58take that mentality, take that mindset and move forward with it to get to a
04:01point where we can actually you know we can be consistent and confident in the
04:07way we're playing and keep building on it and just keep improving because if we
04:10keep turning out performances like Burton and like Mansfield then the
04:16results will come you know the Burton result is disappointing but the
04:19performance is excellent and then the the performance against Mansfield is
04:24excellent and the results excellent so it's you know the one thing that will be
04:28consistent if we keep performing well the results will come and that's what we
04:30need to stick to. Yeah it will be a sellout at the Bournemouth Stadium on Saturday we
04:35saw our last sellout obviously we gave Birmingham one of their probably toughest
04:37games of the season as you know a lot of their staff had said after the game
04:41they were very complimentary about us so we'll be looking to do exactly the same
04:44this time and obviously the fans can have a big impact in that and you know I
04:47think the win on Tuesday would have given them a renewed sense of energy as
04:50well so yeah it should make for a good occasion shouldn't it? Yeah definitely
04:52and obviously we've had like there's times where we haven't been great but
04:57obviously this fixture schedule we've been away from home long journeys for
04:59the fans as well and obviously fans are brilliant on Tuesday night so obviously
05:04the players very kindly said they're gonna they're gonna get them all a drink
05:07and a pint and also a bit of food what everyone's tipplers or for the young'uns
05:13if they want something non-alcoholic. It's very poorly said that isn't it?
05:17So yeah there's a thank you because we do understand we do appreciate that you
05:21know the hours and the money and the time people put in and we're just
05:25pleased that the fans you know can come into Saturday that positivity and I
05:28think that for us to stay out it's gonna have to be all in together you know
05:31they're gonna be difficult times and unfortunately when you are trying to
05:34stay in a league and you're trying to push at the bottom to sort of achieve
05:37overachieve you know staying up is overachieving with the budget and
05:40everything and some of the clubs you have to compete against you just have to all do it
05:45together and stick together in the hard times and really enjoy the good times
05:48because that's what it's about and you know I think hopefully we just have to
05:53use Tuesday as a platform from that not getting too carried away but just keep
05:57that performance levels where they are keep that intensity keep that work rate
05:59where it was and and I genuinely believe that we have enough quality in this
06:02group to go and win games and and be successful but we've got to do the
06:06basics well and we've got to do all this stuff that people don't see the
06:09horribleness there you know the winning the first balls winning the second balls
06:12tracking your men and we did it brilliantly well Tuesday but we have to
06:15do that every single game regardless of who we play.
06:19I work with the Wrexham season ticket holder and he said actually it's a good time for Crawley to play them given their last few results and performances what have you seen in their last performances that have caused those results do you think?
06:30I think yeah I mean they've come up against obviously the Shrewsbury game was an intense derby isn't it or as close to a derby as I'd imagine being from that area and I think
06:39obviously there's the Stevenage game the we watched the game yesterday
06:45Stevenage were excellent but Wrexham still caused a massive threat you know
06:48they didn't they obviously conceded probably poor goals for their standard
06:52obviously Arthur's a fantastic goalkeeper so it wasn't like it was more
06:55a case of Wrexham were the ones who conceded the goals rather than right
06:59being broken down and obviously they're a huge threat from wide areas and from
07:03set pieces you know still consistently scoring and Paul Mullins on the bench
07:07for that game and same as Marriott and obviously all the other attacking
07:13players so we know that it's not going to be as simple as that and all we have
07:18to do is we can't concentrate on what Wrexham are going to do in terms of how
07:20they're going to prepare we can prepare the best we can to stop them and we can
07:23also make sure we prepare the best we can to be at the levels that we want to
07:27be because I genuinely do believe that especially at home and we haven't lost
07:31many at home is when we're at the levels we need to be at home with the crowd and
07:34everything we yeah we can be a very good team and that's what we need to look
07:37forward to on Saturday yeah and you always say don't get too high don't get
07:41too low but after Tuesday night obviously spirits going to be high how
07:45do you harness that without going over the top you just have to understand why
07:48the high you get the high because the work great the intensity the discipline
07:52and the bravery to play and nullify Mansfield defend in the box because the
07:56ball coming from everywhere you know it's trying to stop crosses but if the
08:00cross is coming in regardless of where the ball is on the pitch you have to
08:02defend them and I thought they did it back the back three especially you know
08:05Dion, Dion Radders and Charlie are exceptional alongside Harry and Addy
08:10when they both obviously when Addy come on and and Will Swan you know I think he
08:15went under the radar no he was playing sort of left wing but had to track his
08:18man and was at the back post defending as well as contributing in terms of his
08:21pace and his outlet for the goal especially you know so that everyone has
08:27to understand that they have to do the horrible stuff to be able to enjoy the
08:30good stuff and there's no better feeling as a player when you've gone through all
08:33that the physical battles the running the pace the energy like when you've
08:37depleted it all and you get the win you know it's been worth it and I think
08:40that's what I want I want the players to come off Saturday irregardless of the
08:43result to be honest with you and just think they've absolutely given
08:45everything physically mentally emotionally and then if they've done
08:48that then I have no I have real confidence and belief that we will get
08:52the results and get the points that we want.
08:54Obviously on Tuesday night Matt Cox came in really impressed can you just give
08:58clarification on the goalkeeping situation? Yeah obviously no we beat you
09:01going back we need to bring someone in and Coxy come in someone that we liked
09:05for a long time and I thought he was excellent you know he's so brave of his
09:09feet he's both footed dealt with aerial duels and and obviously got well
09:13deserved clean sheet so he's a great addition to the squad obviously Jojo
09:17missed out on the game wasn't available so Jasper as well he's been
09:21exceptional in training you know he's had a good loan at Whitehawk and he's
09:24someone that we have high hopes for and we'll have to assess the situation
09:27whether Jasper goes out on loan or and we'll see where we're at but no it's
09:30positive to get Coxy in and you know really add strength to our department
09:33and he got off to a good start and a clean sheet which is what every goal he
09:37wants so yeah pleased on that front. Yeah absolutely and you've had a positive
09:41week of incomings are you expecting any more coming in? Yeah I hope so I think
09:45it's you know the squad the lads have been absolutely fantastic in the squad
09:48but you know we need you know you don't you can't predict what's going to happen
09:51as soon as that window shuts in terms of injuries and everything so we need to put
09:53ourselves in the best possible position. Flint is back in a few weeks which is
09:56great but you know we still need cover there Rory's come in and he should be
10:00available to play some part of Saturday which is good yeah and then
10:05hopefully hopefully there's a couple of others I know the club are working hard
10:08to try and to try and identify and get some targets over the line but I think
10:12when it gets these last few days it can get a bit sticky and a bit stagnant so
10:14we'll probably just have to wait and see what happens but pleased with what we've done so far
10:18and hopefully there'll be more to come where we're able to strengthen and give
10:22ourselves the best opportunity. Brilliant and just injury wise where are we with
10:26Jeremy Kelly, Toby Malarkey? Yeah so Toby's been playing with this
10:30long-term back issue and you know he's put himself he's put himself through the
10:35pain barrier and he's made himself available when he could easily have not
10:37and I think it got to the point where he just he couldn't continue so you know
10:40we're gonna make sure that when Toby comes back he's 100% but we don't know
10:44how long that'll be with backs it can be quite a it can be sort of an unknown
10:47like someone who slips a few discs at a time it's one of the ones that flare up
10:51and you go down but we know that when Toby's ready he'll be ready to come back
10:54and help us and Jez has just he rocked his ankle a couple of weeks ago so
11:00he's trying to manage that and again Jeremy's like a quiet soldier he goes
11:05about his business but he's a tough lad and he's playing through the pain
11:08barrier for us but on Monday when he tried to train he just his leg was it
11:11was just a bit too sore and so close from the game on Saturday and he took a
11:14big whack on it on Saturday so we'll have to assess him for this Saturday but
11:17yeah fingers crossed it's nothing too serious we just got to manage it in the
11:21short term so that hopefully in the long term he'll be available and raring to go