Crawley Town boss Rob Elliot's post-match press conference after FA Cup thriller with Lincoln City

SussexWorld

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

Transcript

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.

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