Crawley Town goalkeeper Corey Addai after clean sheet against Forest Green Rovers
Crawley Town beat Forest Green Rovers 2-0 at the Broadfield Stadium thanks to goals from Danilo Orsi and Klaidi Lolos. We spoke to keeper Corey Addai who helped the side keep a clean sheet.
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00:00 Corey, thank you for joining us. It's a great feeling to get back to winning ways and a clean sheet for yourself.
00:05 Can I get your overall assessment of the game first?
00:07 I thought that was really good today. I thought we moved the ball excellent, around the back, played through the middle of the pitch,
00:14 used the width, used our full-backs or wing-backs really, really well. I thought we were a real threat today.
00:20 Going forward and stuff, it was a real, real good performance from the boys.
00:23 It must be pleasing for yourself to get a clean sheet. We've often said, and a lot of fans have said,
00:28 "Sorry for you in the last few weeks." Some brilliant performances from yourself and they just haven't been rewarded with that clean sheet.
00:33 But it must be nice to get one today.
00:35 Yes, it's lovely to get one today. It's an unbelievable feeling. It's a big relief as well for the boys,
00:40 being able to come in and get a clean sheet at home in front of the fans and stuff.
00:44 The last couple of games have been difficult. Obviously, we played some really good opposition.
00:49 So, we've done really well today, especially today as well.
00:53 A couple of good chances and we still managed to come out with a clean sheet, so it's good.
00:58 How much of a weight off the shoulders is it for the lads to get back to winning ways?
01:02 As you said, they've played some really good opposition in the last few weeks.
01:05 But it must be a really good feeling, as I say, a weight off the shoulders to get that three points finally.
01:09 Obviously, we've been in a little bit of a downward form where we haven't really won a game in the last four, I think it is.
01:16 So, obviously, especially now, where it's Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, I think a win at this stage in the season
01:23 is really, really good for momentum. So, we can keep it going. If we can keep turning up performances like we did today
01:28 and, you know what, we just keep racking up the points, whether it's three or one,
01:34 then we just have a point in the right direction, really. So, just keep going.
01:38 Lots of contributions with respect to the gap from players off the bench.
01:43 There's been a lot of changes in the last few weeks.
01:46 Obviously, one thing that you would have noticed, being one of the more consistent players in the squad this season,
01:51 it must be a good feeling for a lot of the players that they're making these contributions
01:55 and it shows how important a big squad can be, isn't it?
01:58 Yeah, of course it is. I think everyone wants to play at the end of the day.
02:01 Obviously, you can't only fill 11 players at one time, but everyone wants to play and everyone works hard in training
02:07 to get into that team. So, it's a real competitive battle in the training ground and during training.
02:12 So, it makes training 100 times more enjoyable, 100 times more better in terms of the quality,
02:18 the levels, intensity and stuff that the boys put out.
02:21 So, yeah, I think that, especially the boys that come off the bench and make a big impact today,
02:25 obviously Lovato comes on and scores, obviously all scores as well.
02:28 But you see boys coming in and filling in positions, obviously, as well.
02:32 If you look at our transfer window as well, obviously, Jez has come in and started to play games
02:36 and he's done really well, really jelled into the squad really nicely.
02:40 So, yeah, I think it's important that we have a big squad, but I also think it's important as well
02:44 that we have a big squad, but everyone's looking to play and really get minutes in
02:50 and we'll make a real impact for the team.
02:52 You touched on it briefly already, but how important can this victory be for the next few games?
02:57 As you've said, we're in a sort of back-to-back for a while now.
03:00 We've got a few Saturday and Tuesdays coming up and a win like this can really kick start a good run of form,
03:04 isn't it, which we've had before this season?
03:06 Yeah, of course. As I said, it's Saturday and Tuesdays and the games come thick and fast.
03:09 So if you pick up three points, if you pick a win up to today, then I'm not sure how our next game is.
03:14 I'll focus on one by one. So if you go into looking to our next game, which is Tuesday and obviously then Saturday,
03:20 I think we have a break after that, just back to Saturday, but it's still good that we have three games in a week
03:25 where we've got a win today. So then now, Tuesday, we can really go and attack it with really no fear,
03:31 where we're coming off a really, really good victory and a really good performance.
03:35 It's a real good morale around the place. The training when we come in, everyone will be happy and positive.
03:42 Instead of coming in, it's negative. So I think that's a real, real, real big effect for the squad.
03:47 Corey, you didn't have loads to do today, but right at the end there, you pulled off a brilliant save from a header.
03:54 How hard is it to keep that concentration throughout when you haven't had lots to do during the game?
03:59 It's not massively difficult. I think you find ways as a keeper to stay in the game.
04:07 When I was growing up, I was obviously told that as a keeper, you're probably in the game for an average of about 12 minutes.
04:15 I'm not saying as long as you're consistent for 12 minutes, but there are moments you have to be right switched on.
04:23 Even through the game, when the ball's at the other end of the pitch, I speak into the back three,
04:27 whether it's Harry, Will or Dion, getting them in, making sure that they're doing their jobs.
04:32 That ultimately keeps me alive and active in the game as well.
04:36 You might see me scream and shout at a lot of the boys and get them in, get them to do what I really want them to do.
04:42 That keeps me alive. I think it's quite easy and you find ways to do it.
04:47 Earlier in the season, there was a change in the league goalkeeper, Luke, who came in.
04:53 You were playing in the cup games and you fought your way back.
04:57 How tough was that, not playing in those league games?
05:00 How pleased are you that Harry bounced back and how well have you performed since you've come back?
05:05 Luke was a great goalkeeper. He's a really, really good keeper.
05:09 He's gone to nuts now and I think he's playing, at the moment, not just how he played today, but he did play last game.
05:14 He's a top keeper, top lad.
05:18 Obviously, there's only one goalkeeper who can play at a time, so you always come out of every way looking to play games.
05:24 Of course, it's difficult when you're in the squad and you get dropped.
05:28 You just have to keep fighting for your place.
05:31 With the Goalkeeper Union and stuff like that, when Luka was here, obviously, and that's Ryan, Sandy,
05:36 we're just positive with each other. It's not anyone's fault why you get dropped or whatever.
05:41 The manager makes the decision. It's not Luka's fault at the time.
05:44 So you just stay positive with him and push him and help show that he plays well, really.
05:49 Just doing everything you can to be a good team player.
05:51 Excellent. Thanks, Corey.
05:53 Obviously, you've had a lot of criticism in the past and I'm pretty sure you addressed it, I think, one time on Twitter.
06:03 How does it feel that you've now proven that wrong?
06:06 I think it's not so much about proving people wrong.
06:10 It's about having an opinion in football. And that's why football is a game of opinions at the end of the day,
06:14 where someone might think you're excellent and someone might think you're not so good.
06:17 And that's why people have careers and people don't, ultimately.
06:21 Obviously, I addressed it because I thought it was unfair at the time.
06:24 But I also think a lot of that was to do with last season as well.
06:28 And obviously, the club wasn't in the best of position, obviously,
06:31 when we were fighting to not go down and win a relegation scrap.
06:34 So the fans, obviously, they have full...
06:37 They're fully allowed an opinion and they're able to speak their mind if they want to speak it.
06:41 But if it's unfair, then I'll ultimately come back at them and tell them what I think as well.
06:46 It's fair, isn't it?
06:47 Yeah, thank you.