Mark Dunford and this week I’m joined by Sussex World’s Brighton and Hove Albion writer Derren Howard and Sam Morton, who covers both Brighton and the Reds and Brighton fan and writer Henry Bryant. In the second half Derren will take over hosting duties while I talk about Crawley.
Brighton’s frustrating recent run continued as they played a 2-2 draw with relegation-bound Leicester City at the Amex Stadium last Saturday. The Seagulls slip to 10th in the table with just six top-flight matches remaining
We look back at the draw the Foxes, as well as a look ahead to this Saturday’s trip to Brentford… plus all the latest from Crawley Town.
Brighton’s frustrating recent run continued as they played a 2-2 draw with relegation-bound Leicester City at the Amex Stadium last Saturday. The Seagulls slip to 10th in the table with just six top-flight matches remaining
We look back at the draw the Foxes, as well as a look ahead to this Saturday’s trip to Brentford… plus all the latest from Crawley Town.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to another episode of the Goalmouth Action Podcast, where we take a look at all things, all the latest goings on at Brighton and Hove Albion and Crawley Town.
00:09I'm Mark Dunford, and this week I'm joined by Sussex World's Brighton and Hove Albion writer Derren Howard and Sam Morton, who covers both Brighton and Reds, and Brighton fan and Henry, and Henry, and writer Henry Bryant.
00:20In the second half, Derren will be taking over hosting duties while I talk all about Crawley.
00:25Brighton's frustrating recent run continued as they played a 2-2 draw with relegation-bound Leicester City at the Amex Stadium last Saturday.
00:32The Seagulls slipped a tenth in the table with just six top-flying matches remaining.
00:36We'll look back at the draw with the Foxes as well as look ahead to this Saturday's trip to Brentford, plus all the latest from Crawley Town.
00:43You can read all the stories we are talking about with pictures and videos online at sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport,
00:49and check out other great videos on Shotztv.com and Freeview Channel 262.
00:54You may be also watching on latest TV, so thank you for tuning in.
00:59But we'll start at Brighton, where on Saturday they twice took the lead at the Amex against Rude Van Nistelrooy's lowly Leicester,
01:05but failed to get three points.
01:07Derren, you were there. What's going on with Brian at the moment? They're not at their best, are they?
01:10No, they're having a bad run at the moment, Mark.
01:16Obviously, since the international break, they've been knocked out of the FA Cup
01:19and then defeats at their old rivals, Crystal Palace, followed by Aston Villa,
01:25which was a, you know, they were comfortable 3-0 winners in the end, Aston Villa.
01:28And then, yeah, it's just a very frustrating draw against the Leicester team that should have been,
01:35you know, that Brighton should have had them put to bed, you know, in the first half.
01:39They had so many chances.
01:42But at the moment, they've got a bad combination of not being ruthless enough in front of goal
01:46and too easy to score against.
01:49And both of those were on display against Leicester.
01:53They had numerous chances.
01:55Simon Odingra, in particular, had quite a few.
01:59Matt O'Reilly hit the post just before the break.
02:03And then afterwards, you know, conceded a couple of sloppy goals.
02:06And then afterwards, they just couldn't get that winner.
02:09Both of their goals came from the spot.
02:11Jao Pedro, who is probably the most clinical person at the club from penalties.
02:19But actually, in terms of open play, it's been a problem for Brighton at the moment.
02:25Even Jao Pedro, he missed a really good chance against Leicester in the first half
02:31when he side-footed wide from a good position.
02:34So, yeah, it is a concern at the moment.
02:38There were periods in the game against Leicester where I thought they were really good, particularly
02:42at the start.
02:44They pushed Leicester back.
02:46We're playing some really nice football.
02:47It's quite encouraging to see Matt O'Reilly as well in a number 10 role.
02:52Obviously, Jorginho Rutt is still out-injured.
02:55And I thought O'Reilly looked quite good in some of the early exchanges, took up some really
03:00good positions.
03:02But, yeah, they just couldn't get the three points that they needed.
03:06And it's sort of, yeah, it's just been a bit frustrating for Brighton at the moment.
03:12And there were a couple of issues with the defensive issues.
03:15Van Hecker was missing.
03:17He was suspended.
03:18They've obviously got Adam Webster injured.
03:20Igor Julio is injured at the back as well.
03:23Joel Veltman is injured.
03:24And Lewis Dunk looked way off the pace against Leicester, unfortunately.
03:29I actually asked after the match if he was playing with an injury.
03:33They were adamant that he's fine.
03:36But it looked a poor display from Lewis Dunk.
03:40And he'll hope to be back in better shape at Brentford this Saturday.
03:47Yeah.
03:48Talking of that, Brentford, the Seagulls have now slipped to 10th in the Premier League
03:52and need a win at Brentford this Saturday to kick-start their European hopes.
03:56Sam, Brentford are always tricky.
03:58How do you see that going?
03:59And can Brighton still qualify for Europe?
04:01Yeah, they certainly can.
04:02They just need to butt their ideas off and start playing the football they were playing
04:07before the international break, really.
04:08Because it has been really poor, as Darren said, in the last few games.
04:12And they do look completely devoid of confidence, unfortunately.
04:15And obviously, they have struggled for goals.
04:17And it was obviously two penalties.
04:18They needed to score against Leicester, which doesn't really go well in itself.
04:23But they couldn't really score from open play.
04:25And obviously, they obviously hit the post and they had chances.
04:28They just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net against a team
04:31that's really struggling.
04:32And then to concede twice against a team that's not scored since January,
04:36it just kind of just goes to show kind of where Brighton are at at the moment, unfortunately.
04:40But they're going into Brentford knowing that they have to win.
04:44I know Leicester was a must-win.
04:45This is an even bigger must-win if they are to kind of mountain their late push for European place again.
04:55Because it's all still very close.
04:56Obviously, the levelling points with Bournemouth and Fulham, if they were to beat Brentford,
05:00who obviously are one place below Brighton in 11th place, then it can look good again.
05:05So, I think their most realistic aim is probably the Conference League at this point,
05:09which 8th place should be enough.
05:11And they are currently levelled in 8th place.
05:13So, hopefully, things obviously do start to improve in the form.
05:18And very quickly, you can see that league position look a bit better.
05:21But in terms of Brentford, their previous two meetings ended goalless,
05:25which doesn't bode well for this Saturday.
05:27But surely, it can't happen three times in a row.
05:29And Brentford have got one win in the last five.
05:32They lost to Aston Villa, beat Bournemouth, lost to Newcastle,
05:35and then had two draws against Chelsea and Arsenal.
05:37So, really tough run games, those.
05:39So, they'll be looking, probably they're looking at this game as a potential game.
05:43They can get another win, obviously, with Brighton not being in the best of form.
05:47But Brentford, as I say, sit 11th with 43 points
05:50and could close that gap on 10th base Brighton, who are currently at 48 points.
05:55And 34 meetings and all competitions.
05:57Albion have won 13 with 10 draws and 11 wins for Brentford.
06:00So, slightly better head-to-head record for Brighton.
06:02And they'll be hoping that continues on Saturday.
06:05But, yeah, time will tell kind of how they set up.
06:08And, obviously, they'll be boosted by the return of Jan-Paul Van Heek as well,
06:12who's also suspended against Leicester and he's a big miss.
06:14So, hopefully, he'll be an important player in the team
06:18and they can get back to winning ways.
06:20Yeah.
06:20One-word answers from each of you.
06:22Can they qualify for Europe?
06:24Will they qualify for Europe?
06:25Sorry.
06:26Darren, one-word answer.
06:29Yes.
06:30Henry?
06:31Definitely.
06:33Sam?
06:33Yes.
06:34Yes.
06:34I'm going to say no, just to be the...
06:36Cool.
06:39Yeah.
06:40So, Henry, on to you.
06:41Since the last international break,
06:42Brighton have been knocked out of the FA Cup,
06:44lost to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa,
06:47lost to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa
06:48and look poor against Leicester.
06:49What's behind their recent slum, do you think?
06:51And what has Fabian Herzella had to say about it?
06:54Well, he's been quite blunt.
06:56And after that Leicester draw,
06:57he said that you shouldn't think about Europe
06:59if you're performing in that type of way,
07:02which was, you know, quite a fair and honest answer, to be honest.
07:05And I think that was, you know, I can respect him for saying that.
07:10But, I mean, when you look at what happened,
07:12if we go back a little bit,
07:13after that 7-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest,
07:17then they come back and you've got the 2-1 win against Chelsea
07:20in the FA Cup.
07:21Then you've got the 3-0 against Chelsea in the league.
07:24Southampton, boom, 4-0.
07:26Then you've got 2-1 Brighton-Bournemouth.
07:28Then 2-1 Newcastle in the fifth round.
07:31Then 2-1 Fulham.
07:32Then the 2-2 with Man City-Brighton.
07:34You think, yes, this is a proper snowball effect.
07:38Things are really looking good.
07:39And then that international break comes and boom,
07:42you're finished.
07:43And it seems like a lot of Brighton fans think
07:46that the Albany are going to end the season on a whimper.
07:50And it's just been such a swings and roundabout season.
07:53I mean, we go from the very start,
07:56when Fabian was in his first month as manager
07:58and he wins Premier League Manager of the Month Awards.
08:01So it's been such a weird one.
08:03I don't think there's anything you can really put it down to.
08:06I think you could argue that it's the fact
08:09that it's quite a rotational squad.
08:11There seems to be a lot of players coming in and out,
08:13especially in that midfield position.
08:15When you look at the defenders that Brighton
08:18have had to sort of chop and change
08:20and with the likes of Belieber or Weefer
08:22having to come to the back line
08:25when there's been some injuries
08:26and a lot of things going on there,
08:28then you can see why that there's been
08:30sort of a backbone issue with the Albion.
08:32But it's hard.
08:34It's hard.
08:35A lot of people try to blame Herzler
08:37and there's been a few jokes flying around
08:39in the last sort of few months
08:40about Herzler in, Herzler out.
08:42And even Fabian himself has been able
08:45to address those and the players in a joking way.
08:47But it's very hard to pinpoint.
08:50It is extremely hard to pinpoint.
08:52But what I will say,
08:53in these last few games,
08:54they really need to make an account of themselves.
08:57That was a very frustrating watch against Leicester.
09:00And if they do the same thing against Brentford,
09:02then they are in danger of really slipping out of the pile.
09:06Absolutely.
09:07Yeah.
09:08And there's been plenty of transfer talk this week,
09:11isn't there, involving Brian?
09:12Most notably, Liverpool's interest in Caro Matoma
09:15and Chelsea's link to Jorginho.
09:17Darren, what's the latest situation with Matoma?
09:20Yes.
09:21Yeah, that's an interesting one for me, Matoma.
09:24So he's currently out injured at the moment.
09:26So he missed the game against Leicester
09:29with a heel injury that he picked up
09:30against Crystal Palace.
09:32He's hopeful to be back in the team
09:34against Brentford and Brighton,
09:36really need him for the last six games
09:37if they are to make this late push for Europe.
09:41But his future beyond that is a little bit uncertain.
09:45I don't think there's any sort of real alarm
09:49in the Brighton camp.
09:50He's contracted, he's got another two years
09:52on his contract this summer.
09:55So Brighton are in, as they often are
09:58with their bigger players,
09:59are in quite a good position when it comes to
10:00if they're going to enter negotiations,
10:03if any clubs are interested.
10:05Liverpool are supposed to be keen.
10:07They're quite keen to revamp their left-hand side.
10:10Obviously, Andy Robertson,
10:11he's coming for some criticism this season.
10:13And they're hoping to sign Bournemouth,
10:16their Hungarian left-back, Kerkesh,
10:18who's a really good player.
10:19And then ahead of him,
10:21it looks as though they want Mitoma
10:22to play on that left flank ahead of him.
10:24And that looks quite a good left-hand side
10:27if they can pick those two up.
10:30But so Brighton rejected a couple of bids in January
10:34from the Saudi Pro League club, Al Nasser.
10:37It's reported to be around sort of 50,
10:4160 million mark in January,
10:43which Brighton,
10:45A, they don't like selling players in January,
10:47especially key players.
10:49And B, Mitoma wasn't keen,
10:51reportedly, to go to Saudi Arabia.
10:54He wants to play Champions League football.
10:56He won't get that with Brighton next season
10:58by the looks of it.
10:59Obviously, he would with Liverpool
11:01if he decides to move.
11:04And then the next discussion would be,
11:07you know, how does he get,
11:09how much do Brighton get for him?
11:11Would they look to take any Liverpool players
11:13in exchange?
11:14So there's going to be sort of negotiations
11:16going on about that
11:18if he was to go to Liverpool.
11:21So my hunch is I think he will leave this summer.
11:25I was saying to Sam the other day,
11:27I haven't heard anything official.
11:28I don't know that for sure,
11:30but that's just my gut feeling.
11:32I think Brighton could maximise his value
11:34at the moment.
11:34He's 27, will be 28 in May.
11:38And I think this is the time,
11:39if they are going to sell him,
11:41this is the time they get maximum value.
11:43And Brighton like to get maximum value
11:45from their players, as we've seen.
11:48But it'd be a huge profit.
11:49He's been a massive success at Brighton.
11:51He's boosted their profile in Japan.
11:53They brought him for 3 million
11:54from Kawasaki Frontal in 2021.
11:58And he's one,
11:58I think he's been one of the players
12:01I've enjoyed watching the most
12:02since I've been covering Brighton.
12:04So it would be a massive loss.
12:06But if he does go,
12:07I expect Brighton to get
12:08a hefty, hefty transfer fee for him.
12:12Yeah.
12:12And very quickly, Sam,
12:13anything in Ruta going to Chelsea,
12:15do you think?
12:16I can't see it.
12:18I can't see it.
12:18I would be shocked.
12:19But obviously,
12:20there is no shock that Chelsea
12:22are of course being interested
12:23in another Brighton player.
12:24That just seems to be,
12:26it should be on everyone's finger card
12:27for every transfer window.
12:28I hear they're interested in Darren
12:29and you as well as reporters.
12:30Yeah.
12:30Yeah.
12:31I wouldn't be surprised.
12:32Yeah.
12:33Yeah.
12:33In recent transfer window,
12:34Chelsea was spent more than 1 billion,
12:36of which 225 million pounds of that
12:38was sent to Brighton
12:40in just over a year.
12:41including a record fee,
12:43obviously,
12:44of £115 million
12:45for Moises Caicedo,
12:46Mark Cucurea,
12:47Robert Sanchez,
12:49Graham Potter
12:49have all swapped the Amex
12:50for the riches of West London.
12:52But yeah,
12:52so it's the interesting one
12:54with Ruta.
12:55Transfer expert,
12:56Florian Plettenberg,
12:58put on X
12:59that Chelsea are closely monitoring
13:00the development of Jorginho
13:01and have added him
13:02to their shortlist
13:03for the next transfer windows.
13:04But he obviously points out
13:05the contract for the Frenchman
13:07until 2028,
13:08which means Brighton
13:09is in a very strong position
13:10and have zero need to sell.
13:12He's obviously only
13:13been here for a season.
13:14He's instantly become
13:15a fan favourite
13:16and his absence
13:18has definitely been felt
13:19in the last few games
13:20or since he picked up
13:21that injury
13:22in the FA Cup
13:23against Nottingham Forest.
13:24And yeah,
13:25I just can't see it personally.
13:26Unless Chelsea
13:27was coming with a huge bid,
13:29not the deal with Caicedo,
13:31then I can't see him leaving.
13:32I think as Darren said,
13:33it's more likely
13:34that Matoma
13:34and perhaps even Pedro
13:35might move on.
13:36But Rutter,
13:37I would imagine,
13:38would stay at least
13:38for another season.
13:41Yeah, cool.
13:42Right, excellent.
13:42That's the end of the
13:43Brighton chat
13:44and we'll get on
13:44to the interesting
13:45Crawley Town chat.
13:46So Darren's going to turn in to me
13:48and we'll take a break here.
13:53OK, welcome back to part two
13:54and Crawley Town
13:55suffered another defeat
13:56this time,
13:573-1 at home
13:58to Leyton Orient.
13:59Was it a fair result
14:00and what did Scott Lindsay
14:01have to say
14:02about the performance
14:03mark?
14:04Yeah,
14:04it was probably
14:06in the end
14:07a fair result
14:07but Crawley dominated
14:08for such a long period.
14:10First half,
14:10they played really well.
14:11It was nil-nil
14:12and then early
14:13in the second half,
14:14they got a penalty.
14:16Armando Quaterna
14:17slotted home
14:18and you thought,
14:19here we go,
14:19we're going to,
14:20with results going
14:21the way they were,
14:22I know we're going
14:22to get on to
14:22the other results
14:24that happened that day.
14:25You thought,
14:26oh,
14:26this could be a turning
14:27point for Crawley
14:28but then
14:28they let in two goals
14:30in two minutes.
14:31One
14:31got a goal
14:34from the kick-off
14:35pretty much
14:35and then they went
14:37straight down
14:37again the other end
14:38Leyton Orient
14:38and got a penalty
14:39and suddenly
14:40within three minutes
14:41of Crawley scoring
14:42they were 2-1 down
14:43and it was just,
14:44you could see
14:45just everything
14:46fall out of the players.
14:48It was just like,
14:48right,
14:49this game's gone
14:50kind of thing
14:50and it was really
14:51disappointing.
14:53Leyton Orient
14:53are a good side,
14:54they're pushing
14:55for playoffs
14:55but Crawley
14:56really did deserve
14:57to win
14:58and like they did
14:58at Stevenage
14:59the week before
14:59when they lost
15:00by the same scoreline.
15:01They dominated possession,
15:0360% possession.
15:04They had more than
15:05200 passes
15:06more than Leyton Orient
15:07but it's just
15:09the lack of cutting edge
15:10in front of goal
15:11and we've been saying
15:11it all season really
15:12but
15:13the second goal
15:17went in
15:17it was just like
15:18he could see
15:19the players just thought
15:20that's it,
15:21we've been beaten.
15:22He said they didn't
15:23throw in the towel
15:23as such
15:24but it just
15:25I think it's happened
15:26so many times
15:27this season
15:28where they've
15:28taken the lead
15:30and then gone
15:30behind really quickly
15:32conceded straight away.
15:33I think it's just
15:34that bit of belief there
15:35and it's a whole season
15:36of that happening
15:37that's probably
15:38sort of contributed
15:39to that
15:39but yeah,
15:40really disappointing
15:41but
15:43if they can continue
15:45to play like that
15:45there is still optimism
15:46going on whatever happens
15:48for the last four games
15:49of the season.
15:50There's still optimism
15:51going into next season
15:52by the way they're playing
15:53the way Scott's gone
15:54playing like they were
15:54towards the end
15:55of last season
15:56so disappointing result
15:58but there were
15:58some positives to take.
16:01Yeah, good, good.
16:02Sam, we were
16:03actually at the Amex
16:04weren't we?
16:05We sat next to each other
16:06we saw the Crawley result
16:07we saw them go one up
16:08and then all of a sudden
16:09it was 2-1, 3-1
16:10within moments.
16:11Was it a missed opportunity
16:12given the results
16:14of other teams around them
16:15and where does that
16:16leave them in there?
16:18Yeah, it is a huge
16:20missed opportunity
16:21with obviously
16:22Bristol Rovers losing
16:23at home against Exeter
16:25and Cambridge also lost
16:28at home to Charlton.
16:29Unfortunately, Burton
16:30did win
16:31and they are now
16:32in prime position
16:33to stay up
16:34and they've done
16:35a really great job
16:36and they've done
16:36exactly what Crawley
16:37could and perhaps
16:39should have done really
16:40and we obviously
16:41looked at when Scott
16:42came in
16:42as kind of like
16:43a bit of a mission
16:44impossible
16:45because teams around
16:46them were just
16:47too far ahead
16:48but actually
16:49if Crawley
16:49had managed
16:51to get the job
16:51done themselves
16:52and got the points
16:53in the last three games
16:54but they've not managed
16:54to win
16:55they'd be fine
16:56and that's the
16:57unfortunate thing really
16:59they've just not managed
17:00to get the points
17:01they've needed
17:03and it does look now
17:05that very, very unlikely
17:07that they'll stay up
17:08they do remain
17:09six points in safety
17:10but that will be nine
17:11if Burton win
17:12their game in hand
17:13and Crawley
17:15obviously haven't won
17:16the last three games
17:16they've got to pick
17:17themselves back up again
17:18and the time
17:20really running out
17:20at this point
17:21so it doesn't leave
17:23them in the best
17:24of positions really
17:25unfortunately
17:26and yeah
17:27it could
17:28we'll get onto
17:28a bit later
17:29but it could
17:29all be over
17:30this weekend
17:31One standout
17:34stat
17:34is that
17:35Crawley used
17:36their seventh
17:37goalkeeper of the season
17:38on Saturday
17:39Mark
17:39what's the situation
17:41there?
17:41Ridiculous
17:43isn't it
17:44Jojo Wallacott's
17:46injured at the moment
17:46he's their first choice
17:47keeper
17:48they have got
17:49Jasper Sheik
17:50in the squad
17:51but he's very
17:53inexperienced
17:53he was at
17:54Free Bridges
17:54I think he went to
17:55Whitehawk as well
17:56but
17:57they seem
17:58resistant
17:59to using him
18:00in a league game
18:01and he probably
18:02has thrown him
18:02in at the deep end
18:03and all that
18:05but
18:05and Ryan Sanford
18:07who's another keeper
18:07he's been injured
18:08all season
18:09he hasn't played a game
18:10but because of that
18:12they brought in
18:12Eddie Beach
18:13on loan
18:13from Chelsea
18:14he got recalled
18:15he played a couple
18:16of games
18:16but when
18:17Jojo Wallacott
18:19was fit
18:20there was times
18:21where he's called up
18:22because he's a Ghanaian
18:23international
18:23so he's called up
18:24to the Ghanaian squad
18:25and they had no
18:26if you've got
18:27haven't got two
18:28fit goalkeepers
18:29I think
18:29or something like that
18:30you're allowed to have
18:31an emergency loan
18:32so they've had
18:33emergency loans
18:34this year
18:34for Conal Truman
18:35who played really well
18:36actually when he came in
18:37and they had
18:40low to low
18:42when Scott Lindsay
18:44first came in
18:44came back in again
18:46and now they've had
18:47Luke Hutchinson
18:47who played on Saturday
18:48and it's looking like
18:50they need another one
18:51for this week
18:51because I think
18:52Jojo Wallacott
18:53will injure
18:53but they will
18:54probably
18:55unless they get
18:56Hutchinson back in
18:57on another
18:57emergency seven day loan
18:59they could be using
19:00that eight deeper
19:01I mean they had a bit
19:02of bad luck
19:02in the January transfer window
19:03because Matthew Cots
19:04came in on loan
19:05from Brentford
19:06for the rest of the season
19:07played two games
19:08looked really good
19:09really impressed with him
19:11and we thought
19:12oh actually
19:12he could be pushing
19:13Wallacott for the
19:14first team choice
19:14and then he got
19:15a season ended injury
19:17so I think
19:19I can't remember
19:20what he did
19:20but it was during
19:21the Bolton game
19:21so yeah
19:24they've just had
19:25such bad luck
19:26and I asked Scott Lindsay
19:28today whether
19:29that's obviously
19:30going to be a priority
19:30going into the summer
19:31and building
19:32a squad
19:33and he didn't answer
19:34that directly
19:35but he just went through
19:35and he said
19:36it is what it is
19:37but it has been
19:39an absolute nightmare
19:40for them
19:40and he said
19:41it's nobody's fault
19:43it's just really bad luck
19:44this year
19:44he probably do seem
19:46to have had a lot of
19:46bad luck this year
19:47with injuries and stuff
19:48he said today
19:49that they were Fred Bear
19:51when he was trying
19:52to do an 11v11
19:53training session
19:54he had to draft people
19:55from the club's
19:57community foundation
19:58to just make up
19:59the number
20:00to try and have
20:00an 11v11 in training
20:02so they are
20:03they are down
20:04to bare bones
20:05at the moment
20:05again with injuries
20:07but the keeper situation
20:08I mean certainly
20:09hasn't helped
20:10that's the one position
20:10you want to be solid
20:11all season isn't it
20:12you want a keeper
20:13who's going to be
20:14performing all season
20:15and when you've had
20:16seven and nearly
20:17probably going to be
20:18eight now
20:18I think that has
20:20probably contributed
20:21a little bit
20:22into the inconsistent
20:23form they've had
20:24I wonder if that's
20:26a record
20:26I wonder if any other
20:27club have used
20:28more than eight
20:29I think it's
20:33six in the league
20:34and seven in total
20:35because Jasper Sheik
20:36made an appearance
20:37in the FA Cup
20:37against Maidenhead
20:38as a substitute
20:39so he's only played
20:41a very small amount
20:42but it's still
20:42seven keepers
20:43that they've used
20:44so far
20:44goodness me
20:45well two big games
20:47for Crawley
20:48coming up this weekend
20:49Sam
20:49can the Reds
20:50relegation be confirmed
20:51and what's the best
20:53outcome in terms
20:53of results for them
20:54yeah so as
20:56briefly mentioned
20:58earlier it can
20:59be all over
21:01basically
21:01this weekend
21:02if Crawley were to
21:04lose at Birmingham
21:05and Burton win
21:06at Exeter
21:06the gap would be
21:07nine points
21:08with three games
21:09remaining for Crawley
21:09and four for
21:10Burton have that
21:11game in hand
21:12Burton have a far
21:13superior goal difference
21:14actually 11 goals
21:15better off at the
21:15moment so
21:16although it wouldn't
21:17be mathematically
21:18confirmed on Friday
21:19it would be
21:20all but over
21:21if those two results
21:22were to happen
21:22and then it would
21:23then be confirmed
21:24on Monday at Exeter
21:25if obviously
21:26Crawley
21:26were to
21:28obviously not
21:29win
21:30and Crawley
21:32were to win
21:34and then obviously
21:34they'd have to
21:35on Friday
21:35they'd have to
21:36hope Burton
21:36lose
21:37and then hope
21:38Bristol Rovers
21:38also lose
21:39at Wrexham
21:40and then you
21:41never know
21:41but it's
21:42you've got to
21:44beat Birmingham
21:44first of all
21:45and that's a
21:46huge task in
21:46itself
21:47I know they're
21:47obviously
21:47champions
21:48and they're
21:49obviously
21:50potentially
21:51might have
21:51their eye
21:52off the ball
21:52a little bit
21:53and we're
21:53disappointed
21:53obviously to
21:54lose that
21:54cup final
21:55but it's
21:57a huge
21:58ask at this
21:59point
21:59and yeah
21:59as I say
22:00it could all
22:01be over
22:01if they were
22:02to lose
22:02on Friday
22:03and yeah
22:05like you say
22:06Friday
22:06it'll be a
22:07massive vacation
22:07for Crawley
22:08players
22:08staff and
22:09fans alike
22:10visiting the
22:10league one
22:11champions
22:11Birmingham
22:12I bet
22:13everybody
22:13including
22:14yourself
22:14Mark
22:15are really
22:15looking forward
22:16to this one
22:16yeah
22:17it should be
22:18an absolutely
22:18great occasion
22:19I'm not sure
22:19if Birmingham
22:20are being
22:21presented
22:21with the
22:22trophy
22:22or anything
22:23because obviously
22:23they're the
22:24first home game
22:25since they've
22:25been crowned
22:26champions
22:26so I'm not
22:27sure if that's
22:28happening
22:28but if it is
22:29that will just
22:29add to the
22:30occasion
22:30but like Sam
22:31said there
22:32you just sort of
22:32hope maybe
22:33they just sort of
22:34take their foot
22:35off the gas
22:35a little bit
22:35because obviously
22:36they've got nothing
22:37to play for now
22:38other than
22:39maybe I don't know
22:39if there's a
22:40record points
22:40total
22:41or whatever
22:42but you think
22:43they'd probably
22:43lose a little bit
22:44of their intensity
22:45now that they've
22:45won the title
22:46so hopefully Crawley
22:47can take advantage
22:48and Crawley
22:49have got a good
22:49record of going
22:50to these big
22:51stadiums
22:51and getting
22:52results
22:53so I think
22:54they've sold
22:54over 500 tickets
22:56for this game
22:56Crawley
22:57I mean obviously
22:58it's a
22:58what is it
22:5930,000 plus
23:00stadium
23:00you'd imagine
23:02there's going to
23:02be a huge
23:03home attendance
23:04there for the
23:05first game
23:05since they've won
23:06the title
23:06so the atmosphere
23:08is going to be
23:08amazing
23:09huge stadium
23:10I mean I don't
23:10think the players
23:11know what situation
23:13they're in
23:13they won't need
23:13any motivation
23:14going into this
23:16game knowing
23:16what they've got
23:16to do
23:17but having
23:17the fact that
23:18it's a massive
23:19stadium against
23:20the champions
23:20I spoke to
23:23Scott Lindsay
23:23about it this
23:24morning and he
23:24used the phrase
23:25little old Crawley
23:26a few times
23:27so yeah
23:29and that's what
23:30it is
23:30little old Crawley
23:30can go there
23:31and really upset
23:32the apple cart
23:32so yeah I'm
23:33hoping it's a
23:34great occasion
23:35and you hope
23:36Crawley can do
23:37something and
23:37just I don't
23:39want to say
23:39prolong the agony
23:40but it feels
23:41like if they do
23:42win it is just
23:43a matter of time
23:44because as Sam
23:46said then
23:47Burton have got
23:47their game in
23:48hand and
23:49annoyingly that
23:50game in hand
23:50comes before
23:51the last game
23:52of the season
23:52so Crawley
23:53could get to
23:53the win the
23:55penilement game
23:56be within three
23:57points of
23:57Burton but then
23:58Burton have got
23:59two games left
23:59and win so
24:01it'll be annoying
24:02if they go down
24:03without playing
24:04that will be
24:05very won't be
24:06very good but
24:07yeah hopefully
24:08they can get a
24:09win Burton
24:10lose and then
24:11it's all game
24:11on again but
24:12it's just it
24:12does seem like
24:13a bit of a
24:13stretch at the
24:14moment yeah
24:15yeah yeah and
24:16then it's Exeter
24:17at the Broadfield
24:17Stadium on
24:18Easter Monday
24:18that's a game
24:20Crawley should be
24:21winning isn't
24:21it Sam
24:22yeah you'd think
24:24so obviously
24:24Exeter no danger
24:25of relegation
24:26they're kind of
24:27just in mid
24:27table really
24:28yeah not too
24:30much to play
24:31for from that
24:32point of view
24:32obviously they
24:33did get that
24:33win at Bristol
24:34Rovers and
24:35before that they
24:36drew 1-0 against
24:37Wigan and they
24:38lost 2-0 home to
24:40Stockport and then
24:40had a 2-1 win at
24:41Barnsley right at
24:43the start of April
24:44so yeah I think
24:45Crawley should be
24:47going to this game
24:48really looking to
24:50get a victory
24:50obviously a lot
24:51will depend on how
24:52things go at
24:54Birmingham because
24:55if they do manage
24:55to pull off a
24:56shock there and
24:58maybe there might
24:59be a glimmer of
25:00hope at Bristol
25:01Rovers and Burton
25:03lose so we'll see
25:04we'll see how
25:05Friday goes but
25:07I think yeah in
25:08terms of the form
25:09in terms of the
25:09table this is a
25:10game that Crawley
25:11will be more
25:12optimistic for winning
25:13than away at
25:13Birmingham I
25:14would suggest
25:14and then just
25:17quickly go to
25:17just got time for
25:18our score
25:19predictions Henry
25:20let's start with
25:21you Brentford
25:23against Brighton
25:24that's going to be
25:25a tricky one isn't
25:26it for Brighton
25:27yeah I do think
25:29Brighton are very
25:30very liable to
25:31letting goals at
25:32the moment so I
25:33think it will be
25:34another high scoring
25:35contest and I
25:36think it will be
25:36another entertainer
25:37one so I'm going
25:38to say 3-1 to the
25:40Albion but that's
25:41being fairly biased
25:42I'm not so
25:47optimistic I think
25:48it's going to be
25:49like a set piece
25:501-0 to Brentford
25:51I think it's going
25:52to be a horrible
25:53game but I don't
25:54know we'll see
25:55we'll see
25:56Sam what do
25:57you think of
25:57Brentford
25:58Brighton
25:59yeah it's do or
26:00die at this point
26:01isn't it and I
26:02think it's going to
26:03be some harsh
26:03words have been
26:04said in training
26:05and there's going
26:06to be a reaction
26:06I'm going to say
26:08not 3-1 but I
26:09think it'll be a
26:09bit edgy I'm going
26:10to go with a 2-1
26:11win for Brighton
26:12this one
26:122-1 win for
26:13Brighton
26:14Mark are you
26:15optimistic ahead of
26:16the GTEC
26:17community stadium
26:17clash
26:18no I'm going to
26:19go 1-0 I think
26:20it'll be a
26:20disappointing draw
26:22again
26:22disappointing draw
26:23yep and then
26:24while we're with
26:26you Mark
26:26Birmingham Crawley
26:27on Friday
26:28what do you think
26:29of that
26:30I'm hopeful
26:31I'm hopeful that
26:32Birmingham will
26:32take their foot
26:33off the gas
26:33I don't think
26:34Crawley will win
26:36but I think they
26:36could get a
26:37creditable 2-1 draw
26:38let's say
26:39there'll be goals
26:40in it I reckon
26:40yeah yeah I think
26:42Birmingham are
26:43finishing style I
26:44can't see Crawley
26:45getting too much
26:45out of it I'm
26:46going to go 2-0
26:462-0 Birmingham
26:47Sam you
26:48yeah yeah it's
26:52difficult because
26:53obviously Birmingham
26:54are obviously all
26:54wrapped up in terms
26:55of being champions
26:56and they might
26:57take their eye off
26:57the ball I'm going
26:58to hold on to
26:58that hope and
26:59say 2-1 Crawley
27:03go on why not
27:04Henry
27:06they're going to
27:09get down 3-0
27:09let me down
27:14yeah
27:16yeah I'm kind
27:19of with well I'm
27:19going to go 2-0 I
27:20think but it's
27:21going to be it's
27:22going to be very
27:22tough but as we
27:24said Exeter on
27:25Monday night might
27:27be a bit more
27:28a bit a bit more
27:29positive Mark how
27:31do you think that
27:31one can go yeah
27:32I'm going for it
27:334-0 4-0 Crawley
27:34they went for they
27:35were 4-1 up in
27:36the against Exeter
27:38in the away trip
27:39over Christmas I
27:40think it was they
27:42ended up drawing
27:434-0 but I think
27:44their defence is a
27:45little bit better
27:46now so yeah I'm
27:48going to go 4-0 or
27:494-1 let's say 4-1
27:514-1 to Crawley
27:52I'm going to go a
27:532-0 for Crawley
27:54for that one Sam
27:55how do you see
27:56that one
27:562-1 Crawley
27:582-1 Crawley
27:59and Henry last
28:01but not least how
28:02do you see that
28:02one go I'm not
28:03going to be nasty
28:04I reckon it will
28:05be 2-1 Crawley
28:06to be fair I
28:07think they'll get
28:07something they'll
28:08get one yeah good
28:09stuff good stuff
28:10well thanks thanks
28:11chaps you can catch
28:13up with all the
28:13latest sports news
28:14covering everything
28:14we talked about
28:15today at
28:16sussexworld.co.uk
28:17and you can watch
28:18more excellent
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28:20freeview channel
28:21262 but thanks
28:23very much for
28:24tuning in