SussexWorld's Matt Pole is joined by Brighton & Hove Albion writer Derren Howard, Crawley Town expert Mark Dunford, and Sam Morton, who covers both the Seagulls and the Reds.
The international break may be in full swing but there are still plenty of things going on at Brighton.
We’ll bring you the latest on RDZ’s future, take a look at some of the Albion stars who will feature for their countries during the international window, plus we’ll look back at a superb result for Crawley Town that underlined their play-off ambitions.
The international break may be in full swing but there are still plenty of things going on at Brighton.
We’ll bring you the latest on RDZ’s future, take a look at some of the Albion stars who will feature for their countries during the international window, plus we’ll look back at a superb result for Crawley Town that underlined their play-off ambitions.
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Welcome to another episode of the Golden Mouth Action Podcast, where we take a look at all
00:05 the latest goings on at Brighton, Hove Abbey and Crawley Town, Sporting Sussex. I'm Matt
00:09 Poul and this week I'm joined by Brighton, Hove Abbey right-hand Darren Howard, Crawley
00:13 Town expert Mark Dunford and Sam Morton, who covers both the Seagulls and the Reds. The
00:18 international break may be in full swing, but there's still plenty of things going on
00:21 at Brighton. We'll bring you the latest on Roberto Di Servi's future. Take a look at
00:25 some of the Albion stars who will feature for their countries during this international
00:29 window, plus we'll look back at a superb result for Crawley Town that further underlined their
00:33 League Two playoff ambitions. You can read all the stories we are talking about with
00:37 videos and pictures online at sussexworld.co.uk/sport and you can check out other great videos on
00:42 shotstv.com and Freeview channel 276. You may also be watching on latest TV, so thank
00:48 you very much for tuning in. But first, we will start with a question that has been asked
00:52 many times this season about our Albion head coach, Roberto Di Servi. Darren, what is the
00:57 latest on his future and have there been any more other clubs that have been linked with
01:00 a potential move for the Italian?
01:02 Yeah, his name keeps on cropping up, doesn't it? Every week, every day, there seems to
01:08 be a new name linked with him. Liverpool and Man United have been sort of the ones most
01:14 linked and a couple of clubs in Serie A as well with Milan as well and Naples as well
01:20 coming up as well, Napoli. But yeah, he doesn't really help it because he hasn't really come
01:26 out and said a firm like I want to stay at Brighton or so the speculation is going to
01:32 rumble on until he sort of, you know, addresses it and says, no, I really want to stay at
01:37 Brighton. But every comment he's made, it's sort of always open to open to however you
01:43 you know, you want to take it. So it's he hasn't really been clear, but he does have
01:47 a contract until June 2026. And hopefully, I think most Brighton fans would want him
01:55 to stay there. I think I personally I'd love for him to stay there as well. And I wouldn't
02:00 be surprised if he if he did give it one more year. But but then I also wouldn't be surprised
02:06 if you know, if he left as well with one of these top jobs came up and they really wanted
02:12 him. It's going to be a tough, you know, tough to say no to, you know, a Barcelona or Liverpool
02:17 or a Man United. But yeah, his average stay in management is around about 18 months in
02:24 his in his previous roles. He's you know, he's coming up to two years with with Brighton
02:28 now. So so yeah, it'll be interesting to see what what happens this this summer. But yeah,
02:36 I don't know whether what happened in Roma, whether that would make the bigger clubs think
02:40 twice about him. I hope it doesn't. But you know, on one game, it's hard to make that
02:46 rash judgment. I guess these clubs would look at his body of work over the last few few
02:50 years and then make a decision based on that. But but no doubt that that result in Roma
02:55 did hurt. But but yeah, unfortunately, no clearer really. And if anybody says they are,
02:59 I probably wouldn't believe them anyway, really, unless it came from De Zerbe or Tony Bloom.
03:05 Meanwhile, 15 Albion players have been called up by their countries this international break,
03:10 including Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk. The 32 year old has been named in the England squad
03:15 that will host Brazil and Belgium in a pair of friendlies this week. Sam Morton, do you
03:19 think Lewis Dunk will feature in these games? And is there a chance that he could be a starter
03:23 for England at this summer's Euros in Germany?
03:26 I think so, Matt. Yeah, absolutely. I think he's definitely on for one of the best defenders
03:31 in that England squad. And I think it's brilliant now that he's getting into the squad regularly.
03:36 It's not just a rare thing anymore, which is which is fantastic. And it really shows
03:40 how far he's come, really. And he's now his kind of qualities are being recognised by
03:46 Gareth Southgate and the rest of the team in England. So I think that's brilliant. And
03:51 I think he would start both of these friendlies, I think. He started most of the friendlies
03:56 before this. So I think he'll definitely have another couple of games to impress. And hopefully
04:01 he can make a claim to be in the squad for the Euros. I think it'd be incredible if he
04:06 is really. But I think obviously with Harry Maguire and John Stones and Jarrod Brantway
04:12 as well as obviously as another really good centre back for Everton, and he's going to
04:16 be pushing for a position in the England team as well. So he's definitely got competition.
04:21 But I think in terms of his experience, in terms of the qualities that he brings, not
04:25 just defending, but his ball-playing skills and everything like that really, I think Lewis
04:28 Dunn definitely is a good choice. Good choice for England's defence really, and can really
04:34 just help them go far in the competition when they get there.
04:38 I don't think he's got any chance of starting. He's not one of Southgate's favourites, is
04:47 he, quite clearly. He should be in there. But yeah, I don't think he'll ever be that
04:53 sort of regular starter for England, unfortunately, given the odd cap here and there. And it's
04:58 like what the likes of Ben White is not going to bother playing for England. It's a shame
05:03 really because he should be picked on form, but we know that Gareth Southgate doesn't
05:06 do that, does he? So, Crawley, Gareth Southgate, I should mention. Sorry.
05:12 I also think that game in Roma as well, where he made that mistake with Lukaku, that may
05:17 stand against him as well.
05:18 It might, yeah, absolutely. That was quite a bad error wasn't it? But yeah, I hope not.
05:24 I want him to start because I think he deserves it, definitely.
05:27 Will anyone be watching those friendlies out of interest, England friendlies?
05:30 Sorry, only one friendly I'm going to try and keep up with, Matt, but we'll talk about
05:38 that later.
05:39 Oh, yes, the big one. I think that also continues our 100%, I don't know if you call it success
05:44 rate, of asking whether you've watched an England friendly and everyone's gone no. So,
05:47 yeah, it's gone to number two this week.
05:50 Meanwhile, something that may well be of interest to Brighton fans is that Denis Undav has received
05:55 his first ever Germany call-up. The striker, who is currently on loan at German-sized
05:59 Stuttgart, has netted 14 Bundesliga goals this season and has been selected alongside
06:04 Albion hero Pascal Gros for Germany's friendlies against France and the Netherlands. It's obviously
06:09 a huge achievement for Undav, isn't it, Darren? But has there, again, been any update on his
06:13 Brighton future? I'm sure, no doubt, Albion fans will be desperate to see him replicate
06:17 that kind of goal-scoring form at the Amex next season if he comes back.
06:21 Yeah, he's been really good, really good. As you say, he's got 14 or 15 goals for Stuttgart
06:26 this season and, yeah, he was just starting to show that type of form as well just before
06:32 he left. He had a really strong end to the season and I thought that may just be enough
06:36 to keep him in, to serve his plans for this campaign. But apparently he was keen to, he
06:43 is obviously from Germany and he wanted to go back to Germany for family reasons. He
06:48 was quite keen on the move to Stuttgart. So, yeah, it was a loss for Brighton in that respect
06:55 and you'd say that he would probably have had more of a contribution this season than
06:59 the likes of Anssi Fati has made or perhaps even Evan Ferguson as well. He would have
07:04 maybe had more options and more goals and assists to his game. But, yeah, they do have
07:14 an option to buy as well Stuttgart. There has been talk of a... He went there on a season-long
07:19 loan. He's done really well and they do have an option to buy as well at the end of the
07:25 loan period. I wouldn't be surprised if they do try and take up on that. There has been
07:29 talks of a fee, roughly around about 15 million, to secure the deal. I remember Brighton bought
07:39 him for around about 7 million from Union SG after he had a prolific season in Belgium.
07:45 So, personally I would like to see him back at Brighton next season. I think there is
07:49 a good Premier League striker in there, especially if you look at how he plays also with Welbeck
07:57 and Ferguson, Jal Pedro. I think there is a place for Undaf in amongst there as well,
08:03 especially with the five substitutions that are in play at the moment. So, yeah, I think
08:09 it's going to be an interesting one to watch. But I hope he starts for Germany. I think
08:13 he really deserves his call-up and Pascal Groves as well. Pascal Groves should have
08:17 been a regular in the Germany team probably a couple of seasons ago really. But yeah,
08:23 two really good players and it would be good to see if they get some minutes for Germany
08:27 in the international break.
08:29 And maybe add a few million pounds to his price tag, Darren, if he does well for Germany.
08:33 There is that as well. If he bangs in a few goals in the Euros, that would certainly add
08:39 to his price tag, which I'm sure Brighton would be hoping for.
08:43 Absolutely. Also among the Brighton international group, the likes of Julio Enciso, Pevzastupinyan,
08:49 Edmund Ferguson and Simon Odingra have also been called up by their respective nations.
08:54 Which Albion players will you be keeping an eye on during this international break? Will
08:58 it be any of the players we've mentioned or is there some others who I've unfortunately
09:02 not mentioned?
09:04 You mentioned Simon Odingra. He's definitely one that I'll be looking forward to watching.
09:08 I think he was obviously superb for the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations. So he's
09:13 definitely one of their key stars now and he'll be looking to follow up on that. Obviously
09:18 for Brighton, he was brilliant when he returned and had a couple of quiet games. But I think
09:23 in the first leg in Rome, he was one of Brighton's best players. And he does seem to be at his
09:29 best form on the left wing because he moved over to the right at home against Roma and
09:35 he wasn't as effective. He wasn't really involved in the game as much. But as soon
09:38 as he moved over to the left, suddenly you just saw different sides of his game and that's
09:42 the position he was playing for at the AFCON. So I think, yeah, definitely he's one I'll
09:47 be looking forward to seeing. And Valentin Barko as well. He might be lined up for an
09:52 appearance or two for Argentina, hopefully. So it'll be interesting to see how he gets
09:58 on and obviously we're still looking to see more of him in a Brighton shirt as well. So
10:02 yeah, interesting to see how they both get on.
10:05 And no injuries, I think, is probably what Deserbe is prone for, I imagine.
10:09 Yeah, absolutely.
10:10 I think there's also the bonus of the fact that they're just international friendlies,
10:15 aren't they? Not qualifiers from what I understand. So maybe there won't be as much intensity.
10:20 Is that a bonus, I suppose?
10:23 Yeah, I think that's probably the case, isn't it, Deren?
10:26 Yeah, I think there won't be so much, like you say, it won't be such an intense match
10:30 and there tends to be a lot more substitutions in the friendly matches as well. So they won't
10:35 be playing 90 minutes, 80 minutes at the high level. They maybe sort of go for an hour and
10:42 then maybe withdraw. So hopefully that will help Brighton because the last thing they
10:46 need is any more injuries.
10:48 Absolutely. Well, best of luck to the Albion contingent. We're going to take a quick break
10:52 and when we come back, we're going to talk all things Crawley Town.
10:56 Crawley Town boosted their League Two playoff hopes with a fine one-all draw against second-place
11:00 Stockport County on Monday evening. How would you sum up that performance, Sam Morton, and
11:04 how big of a result is that for the Reds?
11:07 I thought it was a great result, really. I think it was a deserved point as well, I think.
11:12 I think Crawley had lots of chances, especially in the first half, they were probably the
11:16 team most likely to score. But Stockport were always a threat and they're second place in
11:22 the league for a reason. They had gone six games with just the one win going into it,
11:27 where obviously Crawley had just lost the once in those six games and won five of them.
11:31 So Crawley were definitely the form team and you could see they were playing with confidence
11:34 to begin with and could have scored in the first half on another day. But the second
11:40 half was a different story and Stockport completely dominated Crawley for large parts of the second
11:45 half and Crawley had made two absolutely superb saves, especially the second one. It was incredible.
11:51 It shows how far he's come. But they did concede and it was a real sloppy goal to concede
11:56 from a Crawley point of view, where it just left the man at the back post completely unmarked,
12:02 to be honest. And it was a poor one to concede. And Stockport looked the more likely team
12:07 to add to that as well. Crawley didn't respond well initially and the fans would get a bit
12:12 frustrated, a bit of a lack of urgency from them. But they don't give up, as we saw in
12:17 the previous two games, and they managed to get an equaliser and it was an absolutely
12:20 superb goal again from Clydie Lollos, his third goal in three games. And both him and
12:25 Danilo Orsi were quite quiet in the game. And it's not the first time I've said that,
12:28 where they can go quite large periods where you don't really notice them, but they just
12:32 turn out with a moment of absolute brilliance. And it was a one-two between two strikers
12:38 and Lollos was playing with him one-on-one and you at no moment thought he was ever going
12:42 to miss it. And he had a powerful strike straight into the top corner. So, yeah, it definitely
12:47 felt like a win in those circumstances, really. If the game, I suppose it's got Lindsey Badger
12:51 after this actually, if the game had gone on for another five minutes longer, I think
12:55 Crawley would have been the team to admit to win because they look like the team most
12:59 likely to get that winner. So, definitely a positive result and keeps that chase going
13:03 on for the playoffs. And they've still got those all-important games in hand as well.
13:07 So, I think there was just only a little bit of element of disappointment with the draw
13:11 because if they had have won, they would have gone into the playoff places. They knew what
13:17 was at stake and they knew what they could have got. But I think, yeah, against a team
13:21 as high up in the league as Stockport, going for the title at the end of the day and automatic
13:26 promotion, I think a point is a really good result.
13:28 Sam's mentioned him there, Mark. Clare de Lalos, third goal in as many games. He really
13:34 is becoming the man of the moment for Clove, isn't he?
13:36 He really is. And I mean, I think we spotted it quite early on in the season what a talent
13:41 he was, but very raw. And Scott Lindsey always sort of praised him and that. But I mean,
13:47 you look at his figures, he's played 37 games now, I think. Got eight goals, four assists.
13:52 And he has been a revelation. And I was listening to another, a new Crawley Town podcast I heard
13:58 the other day. Don't listen to it. Listen to our one. It's much better. But they were
14:03 saying that, I've forgotten my point now that I was criticising them.
14:07 Just don't listen to that podcast is the point, isn't it, Mark?
14:11 Exactly. Yeah, he must be one of the most sort of underrated signings of the year kind
14:17 of thing. And big surprises. He's been absolutely fantastic. And actually, this was after the
14:23 game on Tuesday, Monday night, sorry, Scott Lindsey said actually at the moment, they
14:28 might be relying on him a little bit too much because he has been pivotal in those last
14:33 three games coming from behind against Harrogate away, Notts County at home and then Stockport.
14:38 He has had a say in all of those games and he is still only 23. He was playing for Oxford
14:43 City last year. It's incredible what he's achieved this year. And again, it's a reflection
14:51 on the recruitment that Crawley did and the fact that the playoffs are in their hands
14:56 is incredible. And yeah, certainly in the run, I think it's five wins and two draws
15:02 in the last eight games. Clive Lollos has been instrumental in that run. Yeah, absolutely.
15:08 Well, the Reds have now come back from behind to win or draw their last three
15:12 League Two games. The Stockport clash also saw Crawley net in the final 10 minutes for
15:17 the second time in a row to either snatch a point or take all three points. You've kind
15:21 of alluded to it in your previous answer, Sam, but how vital is this never say die attitude
15:27 been to their playoff charge? Yeah, absolutely vital. Really, I think the amount of points
15:32 they've gained in the final 10 minutes of the game has really put them in a great position
15:37 and really we've seen it so many times where they've been losing a game and they've scored
15:41 a couple of goals towards the end and have either nicked a point or got the win. They
15:45 scored most recently against Knox County, they were losing the game and they got two
15:49 goals in the last 10 minutes and won it 2-1. So they've really got a great fighting spirit.
15:55 And it was a question I asked Scott Lindsay about as well, just about kind of how great
16:00 that is that he's got these players that can just play right until the final whistle. And
16:04 yeah, he's absolutely brilliant. And he said at half time to his players that no matter
16:09 what happens, don't panic kind of thing, because obviously Stockport are such a great team,
16:13 second place for a reason. If they were to take the lead, there's no reason to panic
16:16 at all. And you've got the quality to be able to turn it around. And that's obviously what
16:20 we saw. And as I say, if the game had gone on for a bit longer, I'd have backed Cawley
16:24 to have got that win. So it's brilliant and long may it continue for Cawley.
16:28 It's fascinating when you talk to Scott Lindsay about certain things and that. There is a
16:34 method to everything that happens in the game with Scott Lindsay. When it was the winner
16:41 against Notts County when Adi Emo scored, and it was a short corner routine that ended
16:46 up with Adi Emo 20 yards out and you smashed it home. But Scott Lindsay, when you talk
16:52 to him about different bits of that, because he knows the fans get a little bit frustrated
16:56 when there's times when they're drawing or losing, and they're just passing the ball
17:00 around and that, they're not really going for it. But he says, because how many times
17:05 do you see the ball gets pumped into the box for no reason? And somebody scores, it's like
17:09 one in 10, one in 20 even maybe, even with a corner, how many goals do you see scored
17:15 direct well from a corner coming in and somebody either heading it or following it in or anything?
17:21 It's not every time. So why do that every time? Have a slow build. And it is fascinating
17:26 hearing Scott really talk about that because you can tell he's thought about every element
17:31 of the game. And that's why I think they've been so successful this year.
17:34 Do you think they'll make it? Do you think it's feasible? Playoffs?
17:39 Yes. Yes, I do. I've done a piece for the, just an explainer of when the League Two playoffs,
17:46 etc. And within that piece, I predicted what I think the result will, well, not the result,
17:52 but what the outcome of each game will be. So it doesn't look so good in the next four games,
17:59 I must admit from my prediction. I think only one of the next four games in my predictions,
18:04 but they get enough points from the last four games to win. There's a couple of draws in there.
18:09 I haven't just said they're going to lose and that. But yeah, they've got nine games left.
18:14 And if they go the way that I predicted, I think they get 74 points. I think that'll be more than
18:20 enough to secure their place in the playoffs. If they win every game now, they're in the playoffs.
18:24 It's as simple as that. It's in their hands.
18:26 Yes, Scolese did say that Crawley are in the best position, really, to get that playoff place.
18:34 When you look at where they are with the games in hand, and if the manager is saying that,
18:38 he's probably saying that to his players as well. So there's definitely so much confidence in that
18:43 team that they can get there. I think that's brilliant. I think Mark's mentioned it before,
18:48 that you don't often see managers want to talk about it and say that it's a possibility.
18:52 But Scott is so open about the fact that he wants to get there.
18:55 And that's definitely rubbed off on the players.
18:57 They seem to have that star quality in Lallos as well, don't they?
19:01 So he can really, really make it happen on the pitch.
19:04 Yeah, absolutely.
19:05 I'm also quite glad, Mark, that you haven't gone full Mark Roronson when he did his BBC
19:10 Sports score predictions, predicted Crawley to win every game like Liverpool would,
19:13 who invariably have an unbeaten season and win 38 games. So yes, well done there.
19:18 Very quickly, Brighton aren't the only Sussex club to have seen players called up
19:24 for international duty this week. Crawley have also seen one of their stars selected by their
19:28 country. Can you tell us which Red Devil will represent their nation, Mark, and when will
19:32 they be playing? And by all accounts, it sounds like it thoroughly deserves.
19:35 Oh, it is, yeah. Jay Williams, he's been absolutely brilliant this year.
19:40 Arguably one of Crawley's players of the season. If he didn't pick up yellow cards every week,
19:44 he would probably be the player of the season. But he's been fantastic and he's been selected
19:49 for St Kitts and St Nevis. And they're playing San Marino twice in the next week. So tonight,
19:56 7.45 kick-off and Sunday, I think it is. Or is it Sunday or Saturday?
20:00 It's definitely this weekend, yeah.
20:02 Yeah, Sunday, sorry. Yeah, so yeah, it's great. It's great for him because, I mean,
20:07 again, he's another one who was playing National League North last year, I think, with Banbury or
20:12 Brackley Town. Brambury, one of the two.
20:14 I think it's Banbury.
20:15 It was Banbury and then he signed for Brackley and then Crawley went in and took him. That's
20:19 the right thing to happen. But he is, yeah, another young player, another one plucked out
20:24 of normal league and he's been one of the best defenders in League Two that I've seen this year.
20:28 He does have to watch himself with his yellow cards and that. So he has been fantastic and
20:33 he's a really good footballer and he just breaks play up really well. But he's not just a hard man,
20:38 he's got to sort of get in tough tackles and that. He does use the ball really well and he's,
20:42 yeah, it's great for him. And it's great for Crawley to have that recognition that
20:48 one of them this season. So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see how they get on against
20:52 San Marino, the big one.
20:53 This might be showing my ignorance a little bit here, Mark, but have Crawley ever had a
20:57 full international play for them while they've been at the club? I remember that they had an
21:01 Irish striker who used to play for them.
21:03 James Collins. Yeah, James Collins. There have been, you put me on the spot there.
21:09 Yeah, no, it's all right. I know that they've had a lot of like under 21s and equity on Edwards
21:15 when he played for Crawley. There was another Welsh, Scott Davis, I think, possibly Welsh.
21:20 But yeah, they've had quite a few. Matt Sadler, I think that was another one.
21:25 But yeah, no, I'm not sure if they've had sort of like proper full international
21:30 whilst playing for Crawley, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of Reds fans to correct me.
21:35 So, yeah, please do. Please come on Twitter and let me know.
21:39 I do apologise for putting you on the spot.
21:42 We will combine this question into two as this is the only game that concerns us for
21:49 the score predictions this week. Crawley are off to 14th place, Tranmere in League 2.
21:55 They sit just six points behind the Reds.
21:57 Mark Dunford, how do you see this one going and what score are you predicting?
22:00 Well, it's going to be really tough because Tranmere have beaten Mansfield and Wrexham,
22:04 pretty much the two people going to guarantee promotion this year in the last two games. So,
22:09 I think it'll be tough, but I have predicted a draw. I think Crawley,
22:12 the way they're playing, they will pick up something at Tranmere.
22:16 Sam, do you see...
22:17 One-one.
22:18 One-one.
22:18 I was going to say, do you share Mark's thoughts? Are you also going for a draw down in the Wirral?
22:25 No, I'm going for a win. A win for Crawley. Tranmere haven't lost since February,
22:29 so they're due a loss. They are six points below, but Crawley have got two games in hand. So,
22:36 if you were to balance that out, Crawley are quite significantly higher up
22:40 in terms of form, I think. So, I think Crawley will get the win and it will put them into third
22:46 places.
22:46 Would you say they're due a lo-loss?
22:50 No.
22:51 Due a lo-loss.
22:52 No.
22:52 Deron, finally, before we wrap this up, how do you see that one going to...
23:00 Yeah, lo-loss inflicts first lo-loss.
23:02 I'm going to go two-two.
23:05 Excellent stuff. Thank you very much for your time. As ever, chaps, you can catch up with all
23:10 the latest sports news covering everything we've talked about today at sussexworld.co.uk/sport
23:15 and you can watch more excellent videos on shotstv.com and Freeview channel 276. Thank you
23:19 Thank you very much for listening and we will see you all next week.
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