Crawley Town host Reading at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday as the Reds look to get back to winning ways. Here Reds boss Rob Elliot talks about the game, being under pressure, gives an injury update and talks about the club's Foundation
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00:00Rob, thank you for joining us after the tough test on Tuesday night. We've got a home match
00:05to look forward to now against Reading this weekend. Can I get your thoughts on that game?
00:08Yeah, no, it's going to be a good game. Obviously, the reverse fixture was an excellent game
00:14in terms of it's open, both teams want to play, so there'll be loads of space and I
00:17imagine it'll be a really good football game and it'll be a good opportunity for us to
00:22get a good reaction from Tuesday and get back at home because obviously the Cambridge result
00:29was disappointing for lots of different reasons. But I felt overall at home we've been good,
00:35we've been strong and it'll be good to have two very tough games, two good games at home
00:39and we can hopefully get some results.
00:42Yeah, what does the rest of the week's training look like? Because obviously it was a very
00:45late night on Tuesday, I think the coach rolled in just before three o'clock, so I'm sure
00:49there's lots of tired bodies and it must be a hard place to be in that changing room right
00:53now because everyone's, as we said on Tuesday, pushing towards the same goal. So what's the
00:58sort of message you're getting to the players this week?
00:59Yeah, no, we obviously have to look after the bodies, we're down to the bare bones,
01:03obviously with a couple of injuries and what not, so we just need to assess the squad,
01:06obviously be in recovery and a little bit of tactical information for the lads and then
01:12some training for the lads that need a little bit of load and then another day sort of half
01:15recovery again and then go into tomorrow with another day set up ready for Reading and then
01:21hopefully by that time the players will be a bit fresher and we'll have an idea of who
01:25will be available because obviously going into Tuesday night with the suspensions and
01:31a couple of injuries and illnesses, everyone who's fit and available is at Lincoln, basically
01:36on the bench, so hopefully we'll have Pam back and he's feeling better and we'll have
01:41to assess one or two others and see if they're going to be available, if Harry's OK. Obviously
01:45Harry's on the bench for absolute emergency situations but hopefully Harry will be right
01:49for Saturday as well and we can hopefully be a little bit stronger than we were on Tuesday
01:53in terms of the depth of the squad.
01:55It feels like such a long time ago, the first time we played Reading, I think it was one
01:58of your first games in charge of the club, that was actually a very positive performance
02:03and it was one of those ones where we came away scratching our heads at how we'd conceded.
02:07The amount that we did and not got anything from the game, do performances like that sort
02:11of sum up how the season's gone so far and is it, we've spoken about over the last few
02:16weeks needing to just sort of grind out results now, are we sort of into that territory yet
02:20do you think?
02:21Yeah, I think we always are. I think we're always trying to get results and trying to
02:23do it the right way I thought. What you've got to sort of understand is that the squad
02:30that's been built and the way the players are, there's a certain type of way we can
02:33play and there's a certain type of way that obviously the players haven't been brought
02:36in for so we just need to maximise exactly what the squad is and we need to have a bit
02:42more nouse and maybe be a bit more pragmatic at times and manage the game a bit more but
02:48the basics always remain, you need to be able to defend your box with open players
02:54set pieces and you need to be able to put the ball at risk and be able to create opportunities
02:59in the final third. From box to box this year we've been very good, obviously it's in
03:03both boxes where it matters and that's where we need to improve. We always feel like we're
03:07a goal threat, we always feel like we're going to score goals even though maybe there
03:10hasn't been this free flow in the last couple of games but we definitely need to make sure
03:14we're a bit more robust and pragmatic in terms of the way we're defending but ultimately
03:19yeah we still want to attack the game, we need to go and win games, we need to win games
03:24of football so we need to have that mindset to go and win games and score goals.
03:27Yeah and we'll be looking to obviously get back to winning ways but again it's one of
03:31those games where here it's going to be a good occasion and another form of Premier
03:35League side visiting the Broadfield Stadium, it should be a good crowd, we've obviously
03:38got the early kick-off as well, does that sort of change anything in terms of your preparation?
03:42No, not really, obviously the early kick-offs sometimes are good because you get up and
03:47you get out of it and you don't get that sort of mid-afternoon low I suppose, I always like
03:53the early kick-offs themselves because you just attack the day straight away but yeah
03:57we just need to have that energy and that enthusiasm to go and attack the game on Saturday
04:02and I think they're ready and a very good team, obviously they're in good form at the
04:05moment, Noel's done a brilliant job since he took over but the way they play I think
04:11it's going to be a very good game of football, there'll be more space on the pitch than
04:14there normally will against the teams that are sitting in a low block and not allow us
04:17to play so yeah it's going to be a game that's going to be, I think will be enjoyable to
04:24watch and hopefully if we can keep the mentality to move the ball quickly and really nail down
04:34the concepts in terms of the final third and just be more diligent and more ruthless in
04:39terms of the way we defend our box then we have every chance of getting a result but
04:43that's how, for me personally, that's how we have to do it, we have to attack the game,
04:46we have to look to go and score goals and win the game and obviously keep an eye on
04:50when they have the ball and how we're going to nullify them as best we can.
04:53Brilliant, sticking with the early kick-offs, do you think it changes the atmosphere at
04:58all in the ground?
05:03Yeah I think it's probably a better atmosphere in some ways because I think you get up and
05:07you get straight to the stadium and it probably keeps the buzz rather than having more time for
05:12it to drown out so hopefully that early kick-off and the anticipation of playing, like you say,
05:20welcome to the next Premier League, club to the stadium, these are the sort of games that when
05:24you get promoted that you look forward to so hopefully with the fans coming in we can get
05:29back because I think obviously the Cambridge game was disappointing in terms of the result
05:34and we can react to that in front of the fans at home, we've been brilliant to be honest with you
05:37so we need to make sure that we start the game as fast as possible.
05:41Yeah and Reading, obviously you played them, I can't remember exactly when, it was October I
05:46think wasn't it, how have they changed since you've been watching them from that game to where
05:50they are now? Obviously we've seen Sam Smith, he's come here with a different team from when
05:53he played against you, have they changed much in style?
05:58Little tweaks I think to be honest with you, they're a lot more aggressive in terms of the
06:02final third, in terms of the build, they commit more bodies forward, a lot more crosses in the
06:05box and they've got long throws and from set-pieces they're dangerous so we'll have to
06:10be aware of that but they still have the same structure and still have obviously a lot of the
06:13same players so yeah, no, they're going to be a threat, they're not where they are in the
06:18league without being a very good team but we have to make sure that we obviously make the lads as
06:22aware as possible of what they're going to bring but we have to concentrate on our strengths and
06:26their weaknesses and how we can hurt them and go and get three points to get us rolling again
06:31and get us making way in terms of a reaction in terms of the last few games but also for the
06:39rest of the season, for the last 12 in terms of attacking what's in front of us in terms of
06:44the battle and getting ourselves in a position where we're competitive when we're
06:50looking up the table again and getting back on track. And injury-wise and illness-wise, can you
06:56give us an update particularly with Dion because it looked a little bit worrying when Dion walked
07:00off? Yeah, Dion's having a scan today, same with Bradley Ibrahim so we'll see where they are in
07:04terms of the scans. Dion's obviously, I very much doubt he'll be available Saturday but hopefully
07:10it's nothing too major, he might be back in a week or so. Brad's been carrying something for a while
07:14so we'll have to see where that is now because he's not able to play and then yeah, we just have
07:19to assess Liam Fraser as well because he's had a horrendous gash on his leg from the game against
07:25Cambridge and I think he's had eight stitches in his leg but yeah, it was still bleeding on
07:30Tuesday. So yeah, obviously he wasn't able to train for the game so we'll assess where those guys are
07:35and hopefully Pans recovered from being ill because he was ill, missed the game on Tuesday
07:39and it bolsters the squad again so we'll have more options just by either starting 11 and also
07:44when we come from the bench. Yeah, there's been a lot of noise off the pitch at the moment, you
07:49sort of referenced it on Tuesday in your post-match. Is it easy to ignore that distraction
07:55and just focus on the football or is it a distraction and have you got sort of a rallying
07:59cry for the crowd and supporters on Saturday? It's a bit of everything, you can't ignore it
08:07because it's obvious, you know, it's obvious, let's not try and beat it around the bush.
08:11I think there's probably, I think there's issues with the supporters that are probably
08:19long-standing before me being here. All I would ask is that, you know, myself, the staff and the
08:25players are giving absolutely everything and we just want to stick together and we do genuinely
08:31believe that we can stay up, you know, we're not here just to make up numbers and play,
08:36we genuinely believe that and I think we need everyone to get behind the team to do that and
08:41look, all I can ask from my point of view, with no agenda other than trying to win on Saturday,
08:46is that get behind the lads, sing the songs, bring the positivity, bring the noise and,
08:53yeah, and then we can all together roll our sleeves up and do everything we possibly can
08:57to survive in what is one of the toughest leagues and make it something that can be memorable.
09:03But it has to start with, you know, Saturday, it starts with me, it starts with the players 100%
09:07and I just ask that the fans do what they've done for the majority of the season, just keep
09:10backing the lads, keep the positivity, keep the atmosphere like we've had at home and let's just
09:14go and attack the game and give everything for the club and then, you know, obviously the other
09:18stuff I can't really comment on, you know, I can't, to be honest with you. I understand frustrations,
09:23I've been there, I've been at clubs where there's frustrations with everything but all I can say is
09:27that, you know, the staff that have come in with me, Sam, the lads at the stadium have all been
09:33fantastic, so great people who care about the club and want to help. So, yeah, we just have to all
09:39roll our sleeves up, muck in and attack the game together and I think if we do that, you know,
09:44we've got ability, we've got young players and it's their first time at this level and they're
09:49going to get stressed and there's going to be times where we fall short but if we're consistent then I
09:52think we can do something and we can, you know, we can keep the club up.
09:57Yeah, and obviously there's always pressure on football managers. Do you feel under pressure
10:00particularly at the moment with the last couple of results?
10:02Not really, no. If I'm being honest, I think, like, from my playing career, you know, I've been in
10:08really good situations. I've been in really bad situations. I've had, yeah, lots of people not
10:13like me and I've had lots of people support me. You know, it's part of the journey. I think the
10:17biggest thing is that, you know, when I went into Newcastle I wasn't a fan's favourite or anything,
10:21you know, because I struggled at the start but I just kept working hard, kept being a good person,
10:26kept doing the right thing and the same with the staff here and that's what the message to the
10:29players. If you keep consistent, you keep doing the right thing, you keep working hard and that
10:33will come through and people realise that, you know, you're doing absolutely everything you can.
10:38It's not a case that we're not trying and we're not trying to adapt, we're not trying to change
10:41things. You know, we're playing the cards we've been dealt and we're trying to maximise them as
10:45best we can and we're giving these lads an opportunity to give everything from the club
10:48and there are a lot of positives this year but when you don't get the results, it gets
10:52overshadowed by the results and the league position and we know that. That's the football,
10:56that's the business we're in. So, yeah, we just need to get back to, hopefully,
11:01go and get a result on Saturday and keep pushing forward with that.
11:05And just on a slightly different note, I understand the other thing is Jeremy Kelly
11:08and Josh Flint are going to a school in Crawley today for World Book Day. How important is that
11:12side of things with the club getting involved in the community like that and players seeing
11:16the community? It's massive. To be honest with you, I spoke with Darren and I don't think there's
11:20been much done in the last eight months and I just said it's unacceptable. So, the players will be
11:23going to anything they need, they'll be going to and, you know, that started since we found out
11:28about the fact that there hasn't been that community engagement and it needs to be because,
11:32you know, Crawley's a big town, the community's huge. We haven't got the biggest support in the
11:37world because, like, we haven't, you know, but because the club has only been a football league
11:41club since 2011. So, it's incredible the journey it's been on and we want to keep that connection
11:45and we want to keep the momentum and we want to make sure that there's a connection between the
11:48players and the community and that we can, you know, obviously, two things, have that connection
11:53with the fans that come and support us every week but also, you know, hopefully get the wider
11:58community in Crawley coming down to watch us and feeling a part of the club by meeting the
12:01players, the staff and whoever it may be. So, no, it's brilliant, the foundation doing loads
12:05of brilliant work and, again, nothing but brilliant and supportive, the likes of Darren, etc. So,
12:11no, it's great the players are going down and doing things and I'm sure you'll see a lot more
12:14of it going forward. Great, thanks Rob. Cheers mate.