Crawley Town host Harrogate Town as they look to bounce back from their League Two defeat to Barrow last weekend. We spoke to manager Scott Lindsey about the game, how tight League Two is, the standard of refereeing and latest injury update
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00:00 Scott, thank you for joining us.
00:03 Home game this weekend to look forward to against Harrogate Town.
00:05 Can I get your thoughts out of that one?
00:07 Yeah, tough game.
00:08 You know, they're quite good away from home, actually.
00:10 You know, they've picked up some really good results away from home.
00:12 So we know it's going to be a tough game.
00:13 I watched them yesterday,
00:16 Tuesday against Swindon, which was their last game.
00:20 And they played really, really well in that game and probably deserved more than what they got.
00:25 They drew the game, won all
00:28 and missed some big chances, but very, very good.
00:31 Very good on the day.
00:33 They passed it quite nicely, but they had kind of an energy about them, you know.
00:36 So Simon's got them playing really well at the moment.
00:40 So, yeah, we know it's going to be a tough game.
00:41 Yeah, and a very different game perhaps to the one at Barrow.
00:44 Obviously, we're hoping for better conditions, a better playing surface
00:47 and potentially a chance for us to sort of get back to playing the way we like to play.
00:50 Yeah, no, we like being at home anyway.
00:53 You know, the pitch is good here, obviously better than what we played on Saturday.
00:57 But it is what it is.
00:58 We've got to go to these places and we've got to play these games and can't moan about it.
01:02 We've just got to get on with it.
01:04 But no, we're pleased that we're at home and players are looking forward to it.
01:07 Yeah, and our home record is so impressive.
01:10 I think we figured it out the other day.
01:12 We've picked up points in 20 of our last 25 home fixtures,
01:15 which is up there with the best in the EFL.
01:17 Do you think there's any particular reason?
01:18 I know you've spoke to us before about how this is such a tough place to come.
01:22 You're near the pitch as players, you know, you're getting it from the fans.
01:25 Is there any particular reason you think we are so good at home?
01:28 Our crowd, you know, our crowd are brilliant at home.
01:31 I'm not saying they're not awake as they are.
01:32 They travel really well and make a lot of noise when we play away from home.
01:36 But the crowd at home are brilliant, you know, and it's a tight-knit ground.
01:42 As you say, the pitch is always good here.
01:45 You know, I remember coming here as the Swindon manager and found it a hard place to play.
01:50 And I've said that before.
01:51 It is a difficult place to come as an opposition manager and a team.
01:55 But no, it is just literally the crowd and the stadium and the pitch.
02:01 It all helps and we feel comfortable here.
02:03 You know, we do our meetings in our dressing room and we have a real kind of togetherness.
02:09 We just feel at home, you know, when we're at home, obviously.
02:12 You know, we just feel really comfortable here.
02:15 Whilst we know that our away form needs to be improved,
02:18 I still think that we've picked some valuable points up away from home at some tough places,
02:22 like we've mentioned before.
02:24 You know, Stockport, there's not many teams that are going to go there and get anything.
02:27 We got a point there and potentially could have come away with all three.
02:31 Walsall was a tough kind of game that night and we come away with a point.
02:37 Salford, not many teams are going to go there and get, you know, many points really.
02:42 And of course, Grimsby away was a good three points, you know.
02:47 We obviously want to improve on that, but know at home we've been brilliant.
02:52 It's a clear week in the build-up to this fixture, which is, I suppose,
02:55 exactly what you want after doing our longest journey of the season.
02:58 How's the squad come through the week as we prepare for the weekend?
03:01 Yeah, good. Unscathed, which is important.
03:04 So we've not got any more injuries to add to what we had anyway.
03:09 So that's important.
03:10 We've had a good week on the training ground.
03:12 We had a good meeting early part of the week,
03:15 which was always important to debrief the game and look at where we can improve.
03:18 So that was all positive in many ways.
03:21 So now we're in a good place.
03:23 The players seem to have a really good spirit about them.
03:27 And we're looking forward to the game on Saturday.
03:30 And finally for me, just some clarification.
03:33 I'm sure there's perfect reasoning that perhaps fans don't understand about the Wimbledon fixture being moved.
03:38 Could you give any more clarification as to why that was moved?
03:41 Yeah, I think, listen, there's a lot of games in quick succession over the Christmas period.
03:46 You know, there's a ridiculous amount of games in that small period.
03:53 And we felt that it would probably give the supporters a game under the lights,
04:01 which they enjoy and we know, giving them kind of probably a Saturday and Sunday to go do their shopping.
04:09 But also from a football point of view, the recovery side of things,
04:12 I think it was important that we had that extra day recovery going into the next game.
04:16 So that was the main thing from a football point of view.
04:19 Thanks Scott. Thank you.
04:21 It worked out better for me the Friday night, so thank you.
04:25 Going back to Saturday, don't want to linger on it too long,
04:28 but obviously you were very angry after the game about the refereeing performance.
04:32 What's that?
04:34 Where do you think we are with the standard of refereeing in League Two?
04:39 And do you think they should be accountable when there are big decisions that affect results of games?
04:45 Where do I think we are with this standard of refereeing?
04:47 I think that we're a way off where we want to be, for sure.
04:52 That's me just being honest.
04:53 I think that we're a way off where we need to be.
04:57 And I think most managers and probably governing kind of bodies,
05:02 you know, in the refereeing department side of things would probably agree.
05:08 I think we're not where we want to be.
05:12 However, we do realise that it's difficult to recruit and make sure that there's a good, healthy number coming through from a refereeing point of view.
05:23 So we know it's difficult.
05:26 But, you know, I think it needs to be improved, definitely.
05:29 And do there needs to be any accountability?
05:32 Yes, I think there probably does.
05:36 But we don't want to hit them with a stick.
05:38 You know, I think we have to be fair that we are human beings.
05:42 We all make mistakes and there does need to be some accountability for sure.
05:48 And I'm not sure there probably is at the moment.
05:50 Yeah, fair enough.
05:52 Looking at Haraket, you mentioned earlier that they're a good away from home.
05:55 What is it that you've seen that makes them good away from home?
05:58 I think they've just got a kind of good, real, a real good work ethic.
06:02 You know, you saw them, they've had some really good away results and I watched them at home against Swindon last Saturday, at length yesterday and Tuesday.
06:14 And I thought they were really good in the game.
06:16 I thought they would probably deserve to win the game, you know, on reflection with the chances that they had as well.
06:23 They had a real energy about them and pressed really hard and fast up the pitch and made it really difficult for Swindon.
06:31 Swindon couldn't get into the rhythm and they were very good on the day.
06:36 I thoroughly enjoyed watching them actually.
06:39 I thought they played with a real energy.
06:41 I think they've got that.
06:42 I think Simon's kind of created that work ethic amongst his team and, you know, they've done well and they've had some really good away victories.
06:50 So we know it's going to be a tough game.
06:52 Yeah.
06:52 And looking at the league table, you're five points off the playoffs.
06:56 On the flip side, 20th place is just five points below you.
06:59 I mean, is that just testament how tough this league is?
07:02 It does, but after 17 games, if I'd have said to you, we're going to be five points off the playoffs with a gaming hand,
07:13 we're going to be above Salford, MK Dons and Bradford and we're going to be on the same points as Swindon.
07:20 If I'd have said to you that at the start of the season, you'd have stamped my hand off, right?
07:24 Yeah, absolutely.
07:25 So, you know, we're doing great.
07:26 We're doing brilliant in actual fact.
07:29 I think that we're learning on the job.
07:34 Players are learning on the job.
07:36 You know, we've got some young players, some players who've come out of non-league, some players who was in the league,
07:42 but kind of third and fourth choice in their position at the club that they've come from.
07:48 And we've got to recognise that, that these players are kind of learning on the job.
07:52 And we're very much trying to win as many points as we can on a Saturday and a Tuesday.
07:57 And when we play, you know, it's important that we try and get as many points as we can.
08:03 So it is a results industry that we're in, but we're also trying to make these players better as we're doing it as well.
08:10 So, yeah, I think we're doing fantastically well.
08:16 Yeah, and looking at Saturday's game, injury wise, anyone missing from this week?
08:22 Just that Dion's probably again too soon.
08:25 Yeah, recovering really well.
08:28 He's going to be probably starting back out training with the lads around the 27th year, so next Monday, yeah.
08:37 And a quick word on Notts County on Tuesday night.
08:40 Tough trip, obviously, we know, but you performed well there in the FA Cup.
08:43 Are you confident going there again?
08:45 Yeah, I haven't really thought about it, obviously concentrating fully focused on Saturday's game.
08:50 But yeah, another one we'll look forward to.
08:53 You know, we played well there in the FA Cup.
08:57 Obviously didn't get the result we wanted, but no, we enjoyed that game and we'll be taking the positives from that when we prepare for that game.
09:04 Thanks, Scott. Thank you.