Crawley Town host Harrogate Town as they look to bounce back from their League Two defeat to Barrow last weekend. We spoke to midfielder Liam Kelly about the game, how tight League Two is and how much he enjoys defending.
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00:00 Liam, thank you for joining us. After a tough trip to Barrow last weekend, we've got a chance
00:09 to bounce back with three points against Harrogate. Can I get your thoughts ahead of that one?
00:13 Yeah, one to look forward to, being back at home. We've got quite a good home record so
00:18 far this season. We seem to do really well at home. So yeah, an opportunity to get three
00:24 points and one we're all looking forward to.
00:26 Our home record has been very impressive. We've always spoken to the gaffer about how
00:31 when he came here as manager, he said it was a very hard place to come. I'm sure you've
00:35 felt that as a player as well. What is it, do you think, about our home record? Well,
00:39 not necessarily the home record, but what is it about playing here that makes it so
00:42 hard to pick up results?
00:44 I think the fans play a big part, especially when we're doing well. They really get behind
00:49 us and obviously make it hard for opposition. And obviously playing at home is always an
00:55 advantage. We know the ground and the way we play helps us. The pitch is good. I just
01:01 think it's a really good place to play, especially with the way we're playing.
01:05 Yeah, and I suppose after Saturday's result, it's just a case of picking ourselves up.
01:10 I'm sure the gaffer's had lots of meetings with you already and assessed it. It's a long
01:14 journey home. It's a difficult pitch to play on, obviously. Is there any feelings, having
01:19 had a few days to reflect on it?
01:21 Yeah, like you said, we watched it back on Tuesday now, spoke about things that we need
01:27 to improve on. But again, I think going away to Barrow is probably one of the most difficult
01:32 places in the league. So yeah, I don't think many teams will come out there with much. But
01:38 again, like you said, watching it back, we are disappointed with how we played, really.
01:44 But again, another opportunity to bounce back on Saturday.
01:47 Yeah, and Barrow were obviously having a great season so far and they've continued their
01:52 good record. I suppose Saturday's game is just a chance to bounce back. We've been really
01:57 impressive at home and I'm sure the lads are just eager to get out there and not necessarily
02:01 put things right because we've had some good performances of late, haven't we?
02:04 Yeah, like you said, another opportunity. I think the lads are just raring to go now.
02:09 Stevan asked when do you lose? You won the week before at Aki and thought we could go
02:14 on a little bit of a run but it happens in football, you lose games. So again, it's just
02:19 another chance to bounce back and get three points.
02:22 And how have you been feeling physically? Because you've played every game in the league
02:26 so far and I'm pretty sure you've almost played every cup game as well. So it must be pretty
02:30 demanding and a pretty physical challenge.
02:33 No, I've enjoyed it. Everyone loves playing games. So as many as I can play, I just want
02:38 to play in every game. So yeah, long may it continue, touch wood, no injuries. I've been
02:44 lucky to be fair throughout my career. I've never really had muscle injuries or anything.
02:48 So yeah, I'm just raring to go in every game.
02:51 Liam, talking about your style of play. Scott said recently after the Akroton game that
02:58 you are probably one of the best defenders in the club. There was a great moment in that
03:02 Akroton game where you did a tackle right in front of the crowd, right at the back and
03:06 everybody went and cheered. You looked like you celebrated it. Is defending a big part
03:11 of your game? Do you enjoy that part?
03:13 Yeah, I guess it has to be playing in the middle of the pitch. I think it's probably
03:16 one of the positions where you've got to have a little bit of everything. So yeah, if I
03:21 can help out, I'll help out. I've only defended a different way to how the back four defend
03:26 in a way. I've got to try and read the game and break up play. So I do it in my own way.
03:32 But yeah, it's nice people have to say that.
03:35 Absolutely. And regarding, because we've had a few injuries this year with Dion, Ben,
03:40 Kellen, etc. and you, I think you missed a game with your head injury. How impressed
03:44 have you been with the way the players who have come in, the more squad players come
03:47 in and fit in perfectly?
03:49 Yeah, credit to the gaffer and his coaching staff really with the way we're... I guess
03:55 it starts with pre-season, the way we've set up in terms of how he wanted us to play.
04:00 I think everyone's taken on board the position that they play in and the role, what it takes
04:06 to play in the role. So yeah, credit to the gaffer for that. And obviously credit to the
04:10 boys that maybe don't play as much and now when they get the chance, take it. I guess
04:16 Lola is a prime example. At the start of the season, he was coming on or getting a game
04:22 here and there, but now he's come into the team probably the last five, six games and
04:27 been one of our best players and everyone can see now his quality. So long may that
04:32 continue.
04:33 Yeah, and looking at the league table, you're five points off the playoffs, but on the flip
04:37 side, there's five points between you and 20th place. I mean, that shows how tight this
04:41 league is. And obviously you played in it last season. Is it a better standard this
04:45 year, do you think, or just better teams in the league?
04:48 Yeah, I guess we're only 16 games in, so it's always going to be this tight. But yeah,
04:55 it's a strong league from top to bottom. There's no easy game in this league. But I
05:01 think that's every year, you know, so I can't compare it to last year. But yeah, it's a
05:07 strong league.
05:08 Yeah, and I've spoken to Scott and a couple of other players about targets and ambitions
05:13 this year. They said you've got your targets and ambitions, but haven't sort of said publicly
05:17 what they are. They're keeping it within the group. Do you still think, even though we
05:21 don't know what they are, you obviously do, do you think you're still on target to achieve
05:26 those ambitions and targets this season?
05:29 Yeah, I guess we just take it game by game, really. And that's all you can do in football.
05:35 There's no point in looking too far ahead. Once you get ahead of yourself, that's when
05:40 things start to turn in a bad way. So yeah, we just take it game by game. We're confident
05:46 going into every game that we can win. So that's the main objective, going into every
05:50 game. And that starts on Saturday, yeah.
05:53 Yeah. And obviously January's come around very quickly. January transfer window is open.
05:57 Is there anything that you think that the squad needs in that January window? Or do
06:03 you think the squad is pretty good where we are?
06:05 Not for me, I'd be happy with that. But obviously that's down to the gaffer and the coaching
06:10 staff to analyse what we might need. That's just down to them. Us as players have just
06:17 got to play and train very well. And yeah, I guess we'll see when it comes to January.
06:23 Yeah, thanks, lads.
06:24 - Yeah.