Crawley Town travel to Stockport County on Saturday for their latest League One clash. Here is Reds manager Rob Elliot's thoughts ahead of the game
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00:00Rob, thank you for joining us on the verge of a tough away trip to Stockport this weekend.
00:09Can I get your thoughts ahead of that game?
00:11Yes, it's going to be a tough game. Obviously, a very good team in good form as well, physically
00:16very good. So, no, by all means, every game in this league is a tough league, as we know,
00:23but yes, a particularly tough one, but one we're looking forward to, because I think
00:27performance-wise against Burton was excellent. Obviously, we didn't get the result we wanted,
00:31but I thought the performance was really good, other than one chance, which obviously we gave
00:36to them. We were defensively good and created enough chances to score, more at least than we
00:42did. So, no, looking forward to the game and hopefully getting back on track to where we
00:48were before Christmas. Like we said before, it was just that week where we come off it a little
00:52bit with the scheduling and the injuries and people missing. So now, with the squad getting
00:57fitter and stronger, hopefully we'll be in a better place to attack the games.
01:00Yes, you mentioned there, obviously, the tough period of scheduling. This one doesn't seem
01:04particularly fair either. I know it was highlighted at the start of the season as well as crazy,
01:09the fact that we've got to travel up to Manchester and then to Nottingham only a few days later,
01:12with very little rest, pretty much the Sunday before we're back on the road. So,
01:16is that more annoyance from that side of things, that we're being forced to do that
01:21unkind doubleheader?
01:23Yes, I don't know the other fixtures, if other clubs are in this situation, but with the Christmas
01:27period that we're given and then this period here, it's obviously disappointing because,
01:30especially for a club like us, with the resources, it's a six-hour coach there and back Saturday,
01:38then six-hour coaches on Monday, Tuesday. But even for the fans as well, it's expensive after
01:43Christmas for the fans to do two away trips, which I know they will. But look, we can't control that,
01:48we just have to attack it the best we can. Hopefully, with the squad, the numbers coming
01:51back now, the squad will be, in some senses, will be stronger in areas. So, hopefully, we'll be
01:58able to manage the two games and the load over the two games. But we can only worry about Stockport
02:03and we'll worry about that game and then we'll tackle Mansfield after and take it from there.
02:08Yes, earlier in the interview, you mentioned obviously the good performance against Burton.
02:12I think we spoke about it in previous interviews. When do you think we're going to not have to
02:17start prioritising result over performance? But is there, do you think, going to be any
02:21switch in your mentality or the team's mentality in that sense? Or do you think
02:24once the performance is fully there, obviously the results will then marry up with that?
02:28Yes, I think there's no coincidence. Our best performance has got us our best results.
02:32So, in my opinion, you can't consistently get one without the other. Everything we do is geared to
02:38win games and I think what we need to make sure we do is that every opportunity we can to score,
02:43whether it's set pieces, long throws, whatever it might be, we might need to be a bit more direct
02:46and a bit more forceful. But also by not coming away from what's got us the performances and
02:51results because the way the team dynamic is and the style of play that the club's had,
02:56we have to stick to what our principles are in terms of dominating the ball and
03:01adding that high intensity in terms of the running, the crossing and that high press.
03:05So, no, there's certain things that you have to adapt, but you're always looking to get better
03:09and I think you play well, you tend to get the performances, you get the performances,
03:13so you get the wins and that's what we need to concentrate on because,
03:16yes, consistently one comes with the other.
03:19Yes, and what's the squad health looking like? Obviously, we put a video out of
03:23Flinty doing some running on a treadmill earlier in the week, which was great for fans to see,
03:26but obviously don't get too excited yet. There's still probably quite a few weeks until he's back,
03:30but is there any sort of update on him and the rest of the squad?
03:33Yes, Flinty's the ultimate professional and he's flying through his rehab, obviously still
03:38weeks away, but he's had another check with the surgeon that's given the all-clear,
03:42so that's pleasing for him because all the hard work he's putting in is showing.
03:46You know, we've been unfortunate that Toby Malarkey's back issue that he's been playing
03:50with has flared up to the point where he's probably going to be missing for a little bit,
03:53and we had a really unfortunate incident where a freak accident with Joey McKenna in training
03:58where he slipped on the ball and the ground gave way underneath him and he's had a serious injury.
04:05So, Joey looks like he's going to need surgery and there's a good chance we might not see him
04:10for the rest of the season. Hopefully, we're getting back quicker than that, but obviously
04:13it's too early to tell. So, obviously, our thoughts at the moment in terms of with Joey
04:17and looking after him because he's been brilliant for us. So, that's obviously devastating and leaves
04:21us very short at the back. So, yes, in terms of other areas, obviously, Dar should be back
04:26with the squad this weekend, which is good. And Adi, Harry Forster, Adi's come back at the weekend
04:31with Harry Forster as well. So, now the squad in some areas is getting stronger, but obviously
04:35the centre-half, the defensive issue is something we'll obviously have to look at now, especially
04:40one in the window and two with the couple of injuries. Yes, the window's obviously progressing.
04:46There's still plenty of time. We've seen in previous years, we've done a lot of deals towards
04:51the end of the window. So, there's no reason for Courty fans to panic too much yet. There's still
04:55plenty of time. It's there now with the extra added injuries, more departments that we think
05:02we're going to need more than others, do you think? Yes, well, I think obviously the defensive
05:06situation he's looked at, and I think that's obviously more of an emergency than it is...
05:10I'm sorry, I say emergency, a priority is the right sense. And then obviously with Ben Radcliffe
05:15coming in and performing well, that's a positive. And Charlie Barker has been as consistent as ever
05:19and been a real bite spark for me in terms of, he's given absolutely everything.
05:23He's his first bit of exposure to this level to play the game as he had. He's been tremendous.
05:26And then obviously, we were having to recall Jasper. We need to look at the goalkeeping
05:30situation as well to give us a bit more cover. But, yes, I think it's one of them ones where
05:36obviously the recruitment, I mean, it's obviously understood how the recruitment's done here.
05:40I've obviously put in players and names that I know about and that I like, and obviously the
05:45club recruit in terms of their model as well. So hopefully we're getting to the point now where
05:48there are people coming in or that we're getting closer to bringing people in. So, yes, fingers
05:53crossed on that front. It'll be sooner rather than later so we can give this squad a bit of
05:57depth where we need it and look forward to kicking on for the second half of the season.
06:01Yes, we'll talk about them a little bit more after the two games, but a massive shout out
06:04to any of the Crawley fans that are making either of their mental journeys this weekend,
06:08especially to grounds that they would have previously been to last season. So,
06:11yes, fair play to them. We obviously wish them safe travels.
06:13Yes, 100 per cent. Obviously, I know the weather's not great this weekend, so you obviously want
06:16everyone to be safe and travel and be careful. But it's so appreciated, especially at the away
06:20games where it's obviously even tougher for us in terms of stepping up the level. But,
06:25yes, probably two places they'll be familiar with from last year. And, yes, I think that's
06:29the thing that needs to be considered is the fans, isn't it? A Saturday and a Tuesday night.
06:33Die-hard fans won't miss the game because that's what they are. They're Crawley through and through
06:37and they want to support the lads in every opportunity. And, yes, it's tough for them,
06:40but obviously, yes, it's really appreciated within the group and obviously we'll always
06:44show our appreciation. We'll make sure the lads give absolutely everything over the two games to
06:48show that.