Join me as i guide my hometown club to eventual European success, or failure? Who Knows!?
Welcome to the second instalment of Creepy Crawley - started from the bottom, still here. After playing just two matches, i can see that ‘The Red Devils’ are going to be quite the challenge. Link is here if you fancy a read of the past blog:
Moving swiftly on, first up we have a home game against AFC Wimbledon, if you caught up, you’ll remember we also have a JPT first round match against the ‘Dons in the coming weeks. I have decided to start with an unchanged side from our midweek fixture against Ipswich with Barnard and Tomlin up top. Early on Wimbledon are dominant and with just 15 minutes gone it’s 7 shots to 1 to Wimbledon and i’m starting to worry. Not to worry though, just as we hit the 20th minute Lee Barnard storms up the left wing, cuts inside and places a perfect finesse shot away to send the Reds fans into raptures! Would be nice to hold this but this is Crawley remember, Crawley. Half time hit and we are looking strong, bring the shot totals up to 8-8. Different story completely in the second half as Wimbledon are in control, this shows in the 78th minute as they finally get a goal back, to make it 1-1. A drab last 10 minutes brings another 2 points lost. Hopefully that Man of the Match award gives Barnard some well needed confidence.
Straight into the next match we go, with the visit at the Checkatrade.com Stadium from League favorites Portsmouth. Packed crowd inside the stadium for this one, with an aggressive start as within the first 6 minutes we already have a yellow in each team (Clarke, Portsmouth '2') (Jenkins, Crawley '6'). Portsmouth make the best of rare chance as Gary Roberts heads home after a fantastic corner in from Marc McNulty in the 20th Minute. 3 minutes later Portsmouth are forced to make some changes as Michael Doyle is shown a red for an aggressive tackle on Lee Barnard. Putting Crawley into an attacking mentality Crawley, we hit Pompy on the break and get an equaliser with Josh Yorwerth slotting home a tap in. This game is by far the most exciting yet, with end to end action minute by minute. Crawley eventually make the vital breakthrough and with the third corner in quick succession Gavin Tomlin pops up with a great header in the 71st minute to yet again give the Red Devils a hand on all three points. But… Adam McGurk. Adam McGurk. I’d just like to point out what a talent in League 2 this specimen is! By far one of the most creative and consistent players i’ve seen through out the game in this league. But yes, he scores in the 81st minute when Jimmy Smith slipped as the last man and let McGurk run through and place the ball over Flahavan’s head making it 2-2 and game set. Full time and i suppose i should be happy but, no. 4 points for 2 games dropped. Good displays, just not great composure.
Between these two games, i dipped into the transfer window to search for a strong LB and RB. Two positions i can never recall Crawley ever having a superstar player filling in, time to find a couple of gems. Bids have been made and we shall get back to the action.
Away day in Cambridge it is, and unfortunately having to use a youth CB as Jon Ashton has been injured for 4-6 weeks in training, probably from a dodgy Bobson Bawling tackle. I played this out how i feel maybe i should’ve started the previous games, a controller mentality with a structured shape. Realistically i should've just turned my mac off and read a book as this game was a shambles. This started with the worst tackle i have ever seen a little circle make on another, brutal! Josh Yorwerth flies in and takes out Corr and Corr tucks away a superb penalty kick. Yorwerth earning a yellow in the process. Shortly after Newton gets a head to the ball from a corner and makes it 2-0 to Cambridge United. In at half time and i’ve given the boys the hairdryer treatment, football boots flying at heads, the full works. Out they are for the second half and the players morale has just shattered. Yorwerth has a day to forget as a free kick flies in and as if it’s going out for a goal kick to only hit Yorwerth in the thigh to spin through the legs of Flahavan. One minute later, Yorwerth outrageously slides in and takes out Corr to earn a second yellow and an early shower. My only worry right now is that Yorwerth is my only fit first team CB and he's now out for two matches (Free Transfers and loans here i come!) It's not over yet, is the come back on?! Lee Barnard gets a goal back with 18 minutes to go! The come back wasn't on it turns out, Cambridge held the ball well for the remaining minutes and even managed to get a fourth from Jimmy Spencer with 4 minutes to go. This defeat leaves us winless, 16th place and in deep deep Arsenal (I'm a Tottenham fan).
Transfer time!
I've managed to close in on some business with Callum McFadzean (brother of Crawley alumni Kyle) coming in on loan from Sheffield United. Also, Jamie Harney and Luke Conlan come in on loan from Colchester and Burnley respectively as cover to our ever reliable Centre Backs.
Thanks for reading! I'd really appreciate any feedback, so comment or give my page a like HERE if you fancy it!
Link to Creepy Crawley - Started from the bottom, still here. (Part 3) Positives, finally!
Started from the bottom, still here.
