Bradley Flory: Hello everyone and welcome to episode four of the Devil's Own Podcast. I'm joined this evening by Jack, evening Jack.
Jack Flory: Hiya, how are you?
Bradley Flory: I'm good thanks and you? And I'm joined by Asa, even Asa, how are you?
Asa Finch: Good, thank you Bradley, how are you?
Bradley Flory: I'm good thank you mate, good. Right, a couple of bits to start off with. So new sponsor this week, the podcast this week is sponsored by The Little Cricket. So The Little Cricket is a food van you'll find in Teal Gate next to the Grasshoppers pub and they're also a sponsor of the club and I believe they are coming to the ground on Saturday. So snap up some delicious grub from their van. Next thing I just want to touch on, let's just get it boxed off, put a statement out in the week, we condone all racist abuse at the Devil's Zone. I think it's unacceptable that Colin was subjected to that by the Atrington fans during his post-match press conference. I always maintain tactics, team selection, performance is all fair game. Someone's race or ethnicity has absolutely no place in football. ⁓ And we strongly support Crawley Town and Colin in that and making sure that hopefully, you know, Crawley Town Football Club and the Brawfield Stadium is free of racism in the future. Now, ⁓ It's been a couple of weeks since we last did a pod, so we've had two games in that time. We will start with, and I'm sure it won't be the longest conversation in the world, Shrewsbury at Home, which was, I think, a classic board draw, I think they would call it in the olden days. I... struggle two weeks on to remember any real kind of moments of note. Jack, I don't know, can you think of anything exciting that happened in that game?
Jack Flory: ⁓ No, not particularly. I don't remember really any chances we made. It was kind of like a pity to game, but I don't really remember much of them being on site of girl match.
Bradley Flory: No, my overriding memory of the whole fixture was the fact that the Shrewsbury fans all seemed to cram into one tiny little section of the away stand, which was a bit weird. But Asa, can you think of anything exciting that happened?
Asa Finch: Yeah, yeah.
Jack Flory: Yes.
Asa Finch: I think they put... You know, think for some reason they, I think it's probably to do with like stewards. So they don't have to put as many stewards. They all pushed them into one corner so they could just monitor them all. Cause I don't think there was like, there wasn't loads. I think, yeah. But in terms of the match, I thought it was one of those games where I didn't think we had loads of like clear cut chances, but we did definitely have chances to win the match.
Bradley Flory: nearest the chips.
Asa Finch: I think the big one that sounds like it really probably Libby Watson that hit the post in the extra time. ⁓ But apart from that, yeah.
Bradley Flory: Yeah, so I was going to say, interestingly, FOTMOB, we had 63 % possession. We had 14 shots. Shrewsbury had seven, but I don't know how they're deciding this, but they're claiming that each side had one big chance each out of that game. So I guess, yes, Watson hitting the post would probably be the kind of key one. think I remember Chapman making quite a good save I might be wrong but yeah it it was a strange game it felt like We had a lot of the possession, we controlled a lot of the ball. It reminded me a little bit of kind of the Rob Elliott era. We had a lot of the ball, but we didn't do a lot with it. And it just was a game that just sort of lacked quality really. It was just crying out for a real kind of goal scorer to kind of get there and put it away. I suppose. know, positives would be, I think you've written about it Asa, Trusbury and the game before. Louis Watson's starting to find a bit of form. He's starting to find his feet now and get a little run in the team and he's really starting to dictate play and kind of. making himself a presence on the ball and off the ball, which I really like. He seems to have the vision to create chances, but also the foresight to get in positions to be on the end of chances too, which I really like. So I know you've written about him extensively and you're a big advocate of Louis Watson Acer. Jack, Louis Watson, are pleased with these performances recently?
Jack Flory: Tommy Watson has been out of this squad predominantly about 80 % of this season. He's been on the bench a couple of times, then he just got dropped out of nowhere because I thought originally he was injured, but maybe he just probably wasn't performing as well as maybe Scott thought he was and dropped in for other players, like, for example, like Farizad and McCurdy and stuff when he's come back from injuries and things. But since he's been back under new management, think he is proving himself that he wants to be on a pitch 90 minutes a game and he's showing that.
Bradley Flory: Good. A's here, so pleased with these all-round products at the moment.
Asa Finch: Yeah, definitely. think he's definitely, ⁓ you know, as you said, finding his form. And obviously he started the last two matches. I faithfully think he was our most creative player in the Shrewsbury game. I thought he got in really good positions, picked up the ball in pockets. Obviously it was apparent that Shrewsbury were happy to sit in and soak up the pressure, which helped him get on the ball. I think we did I think we were able to break them down fairly well. However, we couldn't quite find that final ball again. think there's a few times where it just didn't quite fall for Toby in the box. But yeah, think I'm happy with ⁓ Louis. I think he's definitely been one of our most creative players.
Bradley Flory: Good. I suppose the only disappointing element of the Shrewsbury game obviously, we lost Harry McCurdy and obviously I don't think we're going to be seeing him now until next season at the earliest, which is a shame because he's a willing worker. I mean, he'll run all day for the team, won't he Harry? Again, I... It's frustrating. think, you I've said it all season long on this and another podcast that I may have featured on, that we've lacked, you know, a 20 goal of season striker and at any kind of level you sort of need that. I'm going to say it because it's doing the rounds. It's disappointing to see that Sramanga is banging in the goals for Barnett when he probably wasn't really given a fair shake of the tree at Crawley. That's not down to the current management, obviously, but it's just disappointing as a fan when you see a player move on and start banging in goals. And clearly, he is a league two quality striker. and do you think if he'd had the whole season at Barnet he probably would get to 20 goals I reckon. I mean he's got to be well on his way to double figures now.
Asa Finch: Yeah, hopefully.
Bradley Flory: That was Shrewsbury in a nutshell. What I can say about Shrewsbury is we had a great time doing the fan interviews. ⁓ Massive thanks to Ryan Gilbert, one of the owners of Crawley Town, stop him by for a chat. We know he listens, so hello Ryan. Then Atkrington. ⁓ I'm gonna confess obviously this game was not on telly. I didn't travel to Atcrington. I've watched the highlights Acer I know you were there How was first off how was the atmosphere because it on telly it seemed like there were not many people there
Asa Finch: Yeah, so I think ⁓ we took 260 fans, I believe was announced, which is fair play. Yeah, yeah, it was. think obviously everyone was tense, a bit nervous, but everyone was in full voice. Everyone was positive ⁓ and got behind the lads. There was a lot of ups and downs in the match. It very much a roller coaster, ⁓ but
Bradley Flory: Well done to all of them for making that trip.
Asa Finch: Yeah, I think we were pretty much a full voice for the 90 minutes.
Bradley Flory: Yeah, I mean, look, I'm not gonna lie. We probably had a very different experience to you. So I was in the garden painting the fence and Jack was sat at the table watching it on soccer Saturday and we went through quite a lot of emotions. It was... You know, it's a strange one because at no point were we obviously up in the game, right? So I think first and foremost, you know, it was a warm day on Saturday, certainly down here. We had great, I think the boys showed great character to come back from a goal down three times and get a point. I think that's the first thing to say. It's just really disappointing again, isn't it? It's another week where we sort of could have secured our our status in League 2 for next season and and things just didn't sort of quite go that way. Particularly, particularly the second goal for Atquinton from what I saw in the highlights. Uncharacteristic defending from us, I would say. mean, you know, the shirt's behind me. I'm a big Charlie Barker fan, right? But we just seem to find ourselves at sixes and sevens in the box. It was a very clever turn from the Atquinton striker to effectively take Chapman out the game. Disappointing. And then, you know, we created some really good stuff. It felt like watching the highlights back, there was some really good movement in there. Jack, you lost your bet to me because Jay Williams didn't score a header. But I think, if we break it down, I think it was a game of, for us, I would say the first one this season, We've attacked really, really well and we've been quite clinical, right? But I also think they gave us the space to be clinical. But then the flip side was we were not great sort of defensively. I know I could see it in Colin's interview after the game. It maybe came a little too quickly after the final whistle and he was a bit frustrated with some of the defending. Was that the consensus in the ground data that we just didn't really defend very well?
Asa Finch: ⁓ I think from sort of first reaction to all the goals I think and also watching them back you know I think they were they're definitely preventable and I think you know Colin alluded to it as well to the fact that making the same mistakes in terms of marking in the box standing players up don't just not frame yourself into tackles ⁓ I think
Bradley Flory: Yeah.
Asa Finch: I think generally, I think the first opening 25 minutes, I'll say, we didn't quite get into our rhythm. We didn't quite find our groove. Obviously they took the lead, we came back into the match and that scene, a switch seemed to flick there. We sort of looked real on the front foot towards the end of the half. I thought maybe we'd take the lead going into the halftime break, but it wasn't to be. ⁓ I think maybe we got caught up in sort of the intensity of the match, how back and forth it was. Maybe that led to maybe some of the sort of maybe slightly erratic defending. I think when you look at our season and when you look how many wins we've got, we've got the least amount of wins in any team in the league. And I think maybe that comes down to the fact that we don't necessarily know how to win a game.
Bradley Flory: Mm-hmm.
Asa Finch: and we've picked up a lot of draws, we've picked up 15 draws so it sort of shows that yeah we're picking up the points, yeah we have the worst way record in league. I think maybe we just don't quite have that, maybe because we haven't done it that much this season maybe there's a lack of confidence but we don't just quite know how to get those three points sometimes.
Bradley Flory: I think we got the worst away record in the league. Yeah and look I'm on FocMob as always right so I've just I hadn't looked at the stats before now and actually there's some really interesting stats on here so we had 53 % possession, we had 14 shots to Atcrington6, they had three shots on target and three big chances and obviously scored from all of them. We had five shots on target, four big chances and we scored three, right? But the one that surprises me and Jack is, let's see if we get Jack's live reaction to this. Jack, would it surprise you if I said their keeper made two saves but Chapman didn't make a single save in the game?
Jack Flory: No, I'm not too surprised because when Chapman first came in and he made all those starting clean sheets, everyone thought we finally have a good keeper. But what you've seen, what I've seen in recent weeks is he gets a little bit shaky. Like what do I like? It's like a one on one, like a straight shot for him. He doesn't know whether to try and go further out the goal, but try and clear the ball or just stay in his goal. So I saw the second goal where they just Harry Potter defense when you see Chapman going the opposite way it just sums it up really.
Bradley Flory: ⁓ I suppose flip side, great cross from Johnny Russell for the Taylor Richards goal. ⁓ Really, really good, really good cross. I've not gonna lie, I've been impressed with Johnny since he came in. Can't be easy to be young man and change country, change league.
Asa Finch: Yeah, I so.
Jack Flory: Yeah.
Bradley Flory: gets in the team then because he went off on international duty, sort of lost his place for a few games to Lewis Richards. But that was, it was a fantastic cross. The defender stands off Taylor Richards. I'm sure their manager wasn't particularly thrilled about that and gave him the space to score, but good composure, good goal. And then obviously a bit of a slightly scrappy one for our third. An uncharacteristic Jay Williams sort of goal, I think. But. Again, of all the people that crawled on the pitch the last season, he's the one that's, you know, he just put every bit of his body on the line at every possible given moment. And, you know, it was disappointing because it came early enough for us to maybe still chase a winner. Did we do that, Acer, after the third goal? Did we really try and dominate the game and go after the win or did we sit back and keep the point?
Asa Finch: I think it's a good question actually. think the game just did sort of seem to peter out after that. It's sort of, you thought maybe we would have the momentum to go on and win the match with 20 minutes left. I definitely still think we were maybe, we were more of the dominant side out of the two, but we didn't quite seem to have that same spark as we had previously. For whatever reason, I'm really not sure, but it did seem to the game sort of went a bit flat and the game sort of petered out and It's a shame because I definitely, when that third one went in, I thought we've got the momentum here, let's go on. I think we're going to get a winner. But it just wasn't to be, unfortunately.
Bradley Flory: No, that's a shame. I mean, again, you'd have to say from Colin's perspective, know, decent substitution. So, you know, you brought on Johnny Russell and he brought on Taylor Richards and obviously both created or scored a goal, which was great. But I think, you know. If you look at the sort of average ratings, know Chapman got a five out of ten I can't recall seeing him that low at all. So maybe he's sort of poorest game for us today But you know, it's another it's another point secured it did enough to kind of just keep us outside of the relegation zone. obviously, I mean, look, it's the last day of the season on Saturday. We're at home, which is great, but we're playing Salford who are in fourth. I mean, look, they've secured their playoff position. They could potentially still go up automatically if they beat us and Cambridge failed to win So Dave still got something to play for they're not necessarily gonna be on the beach just yet We're gonna have to really sort of go at this and then you've got Harroguer and Barrow sort of sitting just below us the moment and we are literally out on goal difference right we've got we're four goals four goals better off so we've got Barrow versus Newport i mean that's huge ⁓ i mean ideally if they could both just draw and disappear out of league two that would do us a massive favor and Harrogate play Barnett who you know they're they could they could potentially still nick into the playoffs if Swindon and Chesterfield lose. So we're looking for a massive favour from CABBY to kind of do that. yeah, I mean, look, think come Saturday we're all going to be Barnet and, you know, Newport fans to hopefully send Harrogate and Barrow down and we stay up. I mean, look, it looked a little bit rosier just before the end of the games on Saturday. It looked like we were maybe going to be a little bit further up the league than we are. So how are we feeling ahead of the last game of the season Jack Nervy?
Jack Flory: I mean, yeah, obviously it's the last game of season. We are on a four goal difference. It's not really a place I thought, a place many fans thought we wouldn't be in. A few months ago when we got relegated from League One, they were expecting at least try to get mid table and it's kind of gone the opposite.
Bradley Flory: Yeah, I I said Alex Ferguson once said squeaky bum time.
Asa Finch: Yeah, I mean it is a bit like that. Yeah, I mean, you know, everyone's nervous, but I think sometimes also it's nervous energy, you know, I think I'm going in with being positive because that's what we've got to be. have, everyone's got to stick together. Everyone's got to get behind the team. We've got to go in positive, even though maybe the prospect of relegation is sort of scary and stuff. We've got to be positive. You know, this is League Two. Anything can happen.
Bradley Flory: Slim.
Asa Finch: you know, anyone can beat anyone as we always say. So we've got to go in and put up the fans need to sing in full voice and then, you know, hopefully that carries out onto the pitch and we can have a great day achieving safety.
Bradley Flory: See you. I yeah, 100%. We all remember the last home game of the season last year. It was our second to last game of the season last year. And we went down by a point in the final minute, I think it was. And that was a horrible experience. No one's... I don't suppose too many people are keen to experience that again this year. I think if we bring that atmosphere, if we bring our support, you know, obviously I've said it before, the devil zone was built on a premise of let's just always support the team, right? We will pick it apart on podcasts, we'll look at tactics, all of that. But for those 90 minutes, when we're in the stadium with those players, we back them 100%. percent right everyone's going to make mistakes on the pitch that's life and we're able to discuss those things but we have to give them the support and give them an opportunity and I think what I would say to anyone listening that is going on Saturday if we go a goal down let's not let our voices drop let's not let the hedge drop because we've shown we've got the character and we definitely kind of can get back into it I mean look what I find quite interesting. I'm just having a look here. you know, this season. Scott Lindsay averaged 0.8 points a game. Since Colin's come in, it's 1.3. If we can hopefully find a way to kind get it over the line, invoke that kind of spirit of last year where we've managed to get sort of, you know, right behind Scott and the team when he came back, then hopefully we can sort of find a way to move it forward. Obviously, one of the... the fun things I like to do is have a look at the kind of last time we played at Crington and how the team has changed since then. So I'm just trying to find the home game. Go on.
Asa Finch: Also, I was going to quickly add as well that when you compare it to last season, we're going into the final game and it's still in our hands. And I think we've got to play on that aspect, that factor. It's in our hands. That's what we've got to use as a positive going into it. And yes, and build on that really.
Bradley Flory: 100 % 100 % And look, know, the first game this season, 29th of November, ⁓ they beat us 4-3. So it's not, you know, it's not impossible for us to get a result against them. There's definitely... You know, they're not infammable. They're a really good side. They're at the kind of right end of the table, obviously. And they are in a position they would expect to be in, given, you know, the money that's behind that club and obviously who is behind that club. Then you'd have to say, yeah, right, they're where they should be. They've got... They've got some good players, but I don't recall being sort of massively impressed with them the first time round. And they've quietly gone about their business this season. think if you, you know, I remember going to see Crawley away at Bromley and I said to Jack at the time, you know, they looked like they were gonna be right up there. They were challenging, they looked... they looked at a completely different level to us. Dare I say it, MK Dons have done what MK Dons were probably hoping they could do last year when Scott went there and they had an injection of cash. They've sort of achieved that. Salford have just quietly sort of strutted along and picked up results. I don't think they're exceptional. Whereas when Bromley came to the Braw Field, it felt inevitable after the first goal that Michael Cheek was gonna get that hat trick. So they're good side. I mean, look, I'm just having a look here, so. ⁓ who scored for us in the first game. had Harry Forster and Jay Williams and an own goal. had Jojo was in goal that day. I think that was in his little spell. had a run, he, with the Bromley game and then into a couple more. Badgerami. Jay Williams, Harry Forster, Louis Watson started that game. Josh Flint, Reece Brown, Louis Flower started that game but came off for Kehiem Dixon. uh, shaman guest They started in that game. Adi Amo started Pereira came on for him. Um, and McCurdy started and roles came on for him. I mean, I'm just looking, you know, you look at a couple of their players, there's some sort of big names in there. I mean, the obvious one was they were able to bring on Fabio Barini of Chelsea, Liverpool and Sunderland, right? So that
Asa Finch: Thank
Bradley Flory: tells you maybe the financial level that they're operating at compared to us. What do you want to see? If nothing else, forget three points, forget a win, what are you hoping to see from the team on Saturday?
Asa Finch: Look, ⁓ our EFL status is on the line and I think sometimes players of a club, at the end of day, the fans are here. The fans are the ones that are here next season. And obviously some players move on. But what we've, and so sometimes we, what we want to see is players that want it and players that know what this club is about.
Bradley Flory: Yep.
Asa Finch: and the community and how tight-knit everyone is. And they got to know what it means from the fans. And the fans have got to show what it means. And so the players realised that. And so I hope that the players go out there and give it their absolute best, which I know they have, you know, for large parts of season. I know they have completely tried their best. But we've got to push right into the last moment. We've got to say, switch on, switched on and... I just want to see them give everything for the badge because it is a massive match in the club's history and that's a fact.
Bradley Flory: Absolutely. Okay, Jack, would you, if you were Colin and you were the manager, would you approach this like a cup final? Forget everything else, a draw's no good to anyone, let's just go out and try and win this game. Because in reality, a draw could save us and a draw could send us down, right? So the only way that we... 100 % stay up is we have to go out and win right and that that would keep us up in our position So would you just set the team up and say to them? This is it. You've got 90 minutes Come what may just go and have a go at them
Jack Flory: Yeah, that is kind of the perspective you want, but at the same time, other than Colin telling them, like, throw your best team out there, try your best. It's not about, I know it's all about trying your best, but at this point, you're in the final game of the season, that this is like the cup final, kind of. It's not like a prepare yourselves, go out there and do a job. It's fight. You have to, I said this last time, it's a fight. You have to stay in a fight. You're going to want to want it to, if your EFL status, the club is on a line to stay in League 2 or to go down. A draw could, like you said, keep such and us down. Ideally, you want to win. You want to try out there, fight your way through this very tough to crack Salford team and just try and just break him down or win, get three points and hopefully stay in League 2.
Bradley Flory: Okay, so you two are a lot younger than I am and I remember going to town mead, I remember going to the Brawfield stadium, I remember the dark days of the Beezer Homes Football League. So Yeah, I remember those days of the Beezer-Holmes League and the very muddy pitches and part-time football. You guys probably only ever remember Crawley as a football league club. the kind of, you know, we've had some highs. My question to you this week, I'm going to leave out the stupid one because I think it's too important this week. Is this a bigger game than the League 2 Playoffs final for Crawleytown? Asa.
Asa Finch: It's a great question because my answer to that is yes because I think you have to look at the long-term consequences of this. Going down a club our size, we know how tough it is to get out of the National League. There's only two places up for grabs.
Bradley Flory: Yep one up. Rochdale got 106 points and didn't come up.
Asa Finch: cut, they might not go up. And that's the reality of it. And it's bonkers, it really is. But you think in terms of sort of expenses, ⁓ we won't have as much coming in, people are gonna lose their jobs, it's gonna have detrimental consequences for the club. And that's why I think in terms of the importance of the club's future, I think it is bigger.
Bradley Flory: Okay, Jack, same question to you. Do you think it's bigger than the League 2 player final?
Jack Flory: In my opinion, is most definitely more important than the playoff final because when it was the playoff final, it was like, if we win, we go to League One, but if we lost, we'd have another season in League Two, try and rebuild on this. This is a dramatic kind of ending because it's like, you win, we keep our status in EFL for another season, hopefully rebuild on that and do better to finish higher places, trying to go back to those playoff days, mid-table, hopefully. But if we lose, it's in this perspective of we are going to the National League where it is quite literally an Everest to climb up back out of the National League. It is a tough, it's a tough league in English football. It's a league you need a lot of teams on. You need a lot of points for that to come back. But at this point, it's like you've got to stay. You have to do this.
Bradley Flory: Big teams, big teams. So talking in the National League, congratulations to our not so distant neighbours, Worthing, on their promotion into the National League. With all due respect, I don't fancy in a way Day at Worthing next season. I would much rather stay in League Two. I mean, look, let's see. ⁓ I guess come Saturday we will... have our answers, we sure. reconvene we will chew over the Salford game and maybe some sort highs and lows of the season next week. Hopefully planning for a season in League 2 next year. In the meantime, if you want to sign up for our supporters podcast that we're going to run over the summer talking about why you support Crawley, your favourite members, those sort of things there's a form you can fill out on our website at the devilzone.uk Look out for us on Saturday we'll be about doing the fan interviews prior to the Salford game Hopefully, you know some some buoyancy and some fun around that Let's really get behind the team this week and let's make it a really hostile atmosphere We've done it before we did it to Fulham in the Carabao Cup a few years ago We did it to MK Dons in the first leg of the playoffs You know, I remember that night Jack and I both kept saying, you know, the players really wanted it. And I think, you know, the thing that was always stuck in my mind from that first leg is a couple of minutes in, we'll write clearing it off the line. If that goal goes in, everything changes, but the desire, the want to get there, everyone just needs to hopefully have a little bit more in their step and a little bit, maybe just a little bit more kind of quality on the ball and be brave and see where that takes us. Obviously for some of these players, potentially the manager, this could be their last appearance at the Brawfield Stadium because there will inevitably be turnover over the summer. So, you know, I'd encourage everyone to at least stay to the end, regardless of result, to kind of clap the guys off because, you know, like you said, Asa, you know... Quality is one thing, desire, passion, I think that's been there. I genuinely don't believe any professional footballer goes out not to try. I genuinely don't believe that. You can make mistakes, you can not follow the tactical advice, all of those sort of things can happen. But I definitely don't think these guys work as hard as they do to become professionals.
Asa Finch: So, I'll you
Bradley Flory: to not go out and give 100 % on a Saturday or a Tuesday or a Wednesday night. So, you know, hopefully the sun will be shining, little cricket are coming down with their foods. Asa, thanks for joining me. Jack, thanks for joining me. And come on you Reds, let's get three points on Saturday.
Asa Finch: Thank you. on your apps.
Jack Flory: Come on you reds.
Asa Finch: You're it.
Jack Flory: Hiya, how are you?
Bradley Flory: I'm good thanks and you? And I'm joined by Asa, even Asa, how are you?
Asa Finch: Good, thank you Bradley, how are you?
Bradley Flory: I'm good thank you mate, good. Right, a couple of bits to start off with. So new sponsor this week, the podcast this week is sponsored by The Little Cricket. So The Little Cricket is a food van you'll find in Teal Gate next to the Grasshoppers pub and they're also a sponsor of the club and I believe they are coming to the ground on Saturday. So snap up some delicious grub from their van. Next thing I just want to touch on, let's just get it boxed off, put a statement out in the week, we condone all racist abuse at the Devil's Zone. I think it's unacceptable that Colin was subjected to that by the Atrington fans during his post-match press conference. I always maintain tactics, team selection, performance is all fair game. Someone's race or ethnicity has absolutely no place in football. ⁓ And we strongly support Crawley Town and Colin in that and making sure that hopefully, you know, Crawley Town Football Club and the Brawfield Stadium is free of racism in the future. Now, ⁓ It's been a couple of weeks since we last did a pod, so we've had two games in that time. We will start with, and I'm sure it won't be the longest conversation in the world, Shrewsbury at Home, which was, I think, a classic board draw, I think they would call it in the olden days. I... struggle two weeks on to remember any real kind of moments of note. Jack, I don't know, can you think of anything exciting that happened in that game?
Jack Flory: ⁓ No, not particularly. I don't remember really any chances we made. It was kind of like a pity to game, but I don't really remember much of them being on site of girl match.
Bradley Flory: No, my overriding memory of the whole fixture was the fact that the Shrewsbury fans all seemed to cram into one tiny little section of the away stand, which was a bit weird. But Asa, can you think of anything exciting that happened?
Asa Finch: Yeah, yeah.
Jack Flory: Yes.
Asa Finch: I think they put... You know, think for some reason they, I think it's probably to do with like stewards. So they don't have to put as many stewards. They all pushed them into one corner so they could just monitor them all. Cause I don't think there was like, there wasn't loads. I think, yeah. But in terms of the match, I thought it was one of those games where I didn't think we had loads of like clear cut chances, but we did definitely have chances to win the match.
Bradley Flory: nearest the chips.
Asa Finch: I think the big one that sounds like it really probably Libby Watson that hit the post in the extra time. ⁓ But apart from that, yeah.
Bradley Flory: Yeah, so I was going to say, interestingly, FOTMOB, we had 63 % possession. We had 14 shots. Shrewsbury had seven, but I don't know how they're deciding this, but they're claiming that each side had one big chance each out of that game. So I guess, yes, Watson hitting the post would probably be the kind of key one. think I remember Chapman making quite a good save I might be wrong but yeah it it was a strange game it felt like We had a lot of the possession, we controlled a lot of the ball. It reminded me a little bit of kind of the Rob Elliott era. We had a lot of the ball, but we didn't do a lot with it. And it just was a game that just sort of lacked quality really. It was just crying out for a real kind of goal scorer to kind of get there and put it away. I suppose. know, positives would be, I think you've written about it Asa, Trusbury and the game before. Louis Watson's starting to find a bit of form. He's starting to find his feet now and get a little run in the team and he's really starting to dictate play and kind of. making himself a presence on the ball and off the ball, which I really like. He seems to have the vision to create chances, but also the foresight to get in positions to be on the end of chances too, which I really like. So I know you've written about him extensively and you're a big advocate of Louis Watson Acer. Jack, Louis Watson, are pleased with these performances recently?
Jack Flory: Tommy Watson has been out of this squad predominantly about 80 % of this season. He's been on the bench a couple of times, then he just got dropped out of nowhere because I thought originally he was injured, but maybe he just probably wasn't performing as well as maybe Scott thought he was and dropped in for other players, like, for example, like Farizad and McCurdy and stuff when he's come back from injuries and things. But since he's been back under new management, think he is proving himself that he wants to be on a pitch 90 minutes a game and he's showing that.
Bradley Flory: Good. A's here, so pleased with these all-round products at the moment.
Asa Finch: Yeah, definitely. think he's definitely, ⁓ you know, as you said, finding his form. And obviously he started the last two matches. I faithfully think he was our most creative player in the Shrewsbury game. I thought he got in really good positions, picked up the ball in pockets. Obviously it was apparent that Shrewsbury were happy to sit in and soak up the pressure, which helped him get on the ball. I think we did I think we were able to break them down fairly well. However, we couldn't quite find that final ball again. think there's a few times where it just didn't quite fall for Toby in the box. But yeah, think I'm happy with ⁓ Louis. I think he's definitely been one of our most creative players.
Bradley Flory: Good. I suppose the only disappointing element of the Shrewsbury game obviously, we lost Harry McCurdy and obviously I don't think we're going to be seeing him now until next season at the earliest, which is a shame because he's a willing worker. I mean, he'll run all day for the team, won't he Harry? Again, I... It's frustrating. think, you I've said it all season long on this and another podcast that I may have featured on, that we've lacked, you know, a 20 goal of season striker and at any kind of level you sort of need that. I'm going to say it because it's doing the rounds. It's disappointing to see that Sramanga is banging in the goals for Barnett when he probably wasn't really given a fair shake of the tree at Crawley. That's not down to the current management, obviously, but it's just disappointing as a fan when you see a player move on and start banging in goals. And clearly, he is a league two quality striker. and do you think if he'd had the whole season at Barnet he probably would get to 20 goals I reckon. I mean he's got to be well on his way to double figures now.
Asa Finch: Yeah, hopefully.
Bradley Flory: That was Shrewsbury in a nutshell. What I can say about Shrewsbury is we had a great time doing the fan interviews. ⁓ Massive thanks to Ryan Gilbert, one of the owners of Crawley Town, stop him by for a chat. We know he listens, so hello Ryan. Then Atkrington. ⁓ I'm gonna confess obviously this game was not on telly. I didn't travel to Atcrington. I've watched the highlights Acer I know you were there How was first off how was the atmosphere because it on telly it seemed like there were not many people there
Asa Finch: Yeah, so I think ⁓ we took 260 fans, I believe was announced, which is fair play. Yeah, yeah, it was. think obviously everyone was tense, a bit nervous, but everyone was in full voice. Everyone was positive ⁓ and got behind the lads. There was a lot of ups and downs in the match. It very much a roller coaster, ⁓ but
Bradley Flory: Well done to all of them for making that trip.
Asa Finch: Yeah, I think we were pretty much a full voice for the 90 minutes.
Bradley Flory: Yeah, I mean, look, I'm not gonna lie. We probably had a very different experience to you. So I was in the garden painting the fence and Jack was sat at the table watching it on soccer Saturday and we went through quite a lot of emotions. It was... You know, it's a strange one because at no point were we obviously up in the game, right? So I think first and foremost, you know, it was a warm day on Saturday, certainly down here. We had great, I think the boys showed great character to come back from a goal down three times and get a point. I think that's the first thing to say. It's just really disappointing again, isn't it? It's another week where we sort of could have secured our our status in League 2 for next season and and things just didn't sort of quite go that way. Particularly, particularly the second goal for Atquinton from what I saw in the highlights. Uncharacteristic defending from us, I would say. mean, you know, the shirt's behind me. I'm a big Charlie Barker fan, right? But we just seem to find ourselves at sixes and sevens in the box. It was a very clever turn from the Atquinton striker to effectively take Chapman out the game. Disappointing. And then, you know, we created some really good stuff. It felt like watching the highlights back, there was some really good movement in there. Jack, you lost your bet to me because Jay Williams didn't score a header. But I think, if we break it down, I think it was a game of, for us, I would say the first one this season, We've attacked really, really well and we've been quite clinical, right? But I also think they gave us the space to be clinical. But then the flip side was we were not great sort of defensively. I know I could see it in Colin's interview after the game. It maybe came a little too quickly after the final whistle and he was a bit frustrated with some of the defending. Was that the consensus in the ground data that we just didn't really defend very well?
Asa Finch: ⁓ I think from sort of first reaction to all the goals I think and also watching them back you know I think they were they're definitely preventable and I think you know Colin alluded to it as well to the fact that making the same mistakes in terms of marking in the box standing players up don't just not frame yourself into tackles ⁓ I think
Bradley Flory: Yeah.
Asa Finch: I think generally, I think the first opening 25 minutes, I'll say, we didn't quite get into our rhythm. We didn't quite find our groove. Obviously they took the lead, we came back into the match and that scene, a switch seemed to flick there. We sort of looked real on the front foot towards the end of the half. I thought maybe we'd take the lead going into the halftime break, but it wasn't to be. ⁓ I think maybe we got caught up in sort of the intensity of the match, how back and forth it was. Maybe that led to maybe some of the sort of maybe slightly erratic defending. I think when you look at our season and when you look how many wins we've got, we've got the least amount of wins in any team in the league. And I think maybe that comes down to the fact that we don't necessarily know how to win a game.
Bradley Flory: Mm-hmm.
Asa Finch: and we've picked up a lot of draws, we've picked up 15 draws so it sort of shows that yeah we're picking up the points, yeah we have the worst way record in league. I think maybe we just don't quite have that, maybe because we haven't done it that much this season maybe there's a lack of confidence but we don't just quite know how to get those three points sometimes.
Bradley Flory: I think we got the worst away record in the league. Yeah and look I'm on FocMob as always right so I've just I hadn't looked at the stats before now and actually there's some really interesting stats on here so we had 53 % possession, we had 14 shots to Atcrington6, they had three shots on target and three big chances and obviously scored from all of them. We had five shots on target, four big chances and we scored three, right? But the one that surprises me and Jack is, let's see if we get Jack's live reaction to this. Jack, would it surprise you if I said their keeper made two saves but Chapman didn't make a single save in the game?
Jack Flory: No, I'm not too surprised because when Chapman first came in and he made all those starting clean sheets, everyone thought we finally have a good keeper. But what you've seen, what I've seen in recent weeks is he gets a little bit shaky. Like what do I like? It's like a one on one, like a straight shot for him. He doesn't know whether to try and go further out the goal, but try and clear the ball or just stay in his goal. So I saw the second goal where they just Harry Potter defense when you see Chapman going the opposite way it just sums it up really.
Bradley Flory: ⁓ I suppose flip side, great cross from Johnny Russell for the Taylor Richards goal. ⁓ Really, really good, really good cross. I've not gonna lie, I've been impressed with Johnny since he came in. Can't be easy to be young man and change country, change league.
Asa Finch: Yeah, I so.
Jack Flory: Yeah.
Bradley Flory: gets in the team then because he went off on international duty, sort of lost his place for a few games to Lewis Richards. But that was, it was a fantastic cross. The defender stands off Taylor Richards. I'm sure their manager wasn't particularly thrilled about that and gave him the space to score, but good composure, good goal. And then obviously a bit of a slightly scrappy one for our third. An uncharacteristic Jay Williams sort of goal, I think. But. Again, of all the people that crawled on the pitch the last season, he's the one that's, you know, he just put every bit of his body on the line at every possible given moment. And, you know, it was disappointing because it came early enough for us to maybe still chase a winner. Did we do that, Acer, after the third goal? Did we really try and dominate the game and go after the win or did we sit back and keep the point?
Asa Finch: I think it's a good question actually. think the game just did sort of seem to peter out after that. It's sort of, you thought maybe we would have the momentum to go on and win the match with 20 minutes left. I definitely still think we were maybe, we were more of the dominant side out of the two, but we didn't quite seem to have that same spark as we had previously. For whatever reason, I'm really not sure, but it did seem to the game sort of went a bit flat and the game sort of petered out and It's a shame because I definitely, when that third one went in, I thought we've got the momentum here, let's go on. I think we're going to get a winner. But it just wasn't to be, unfortunately.
Bradley Flory: No, that's a shame. I mean, again, you'd have to say from Colin's perspective, know, decent substitution. So, you know, you brought on Johnny Russell and he brought on Taylor Richards and obviously both created or scored a goal, which was great. But I think, you know. If you look at the sort of average ratings, know Chapman got a five out of ten I can't recall seeing him that low at all. So maybe he's sort of poorest game for us today But you know, it's another it's another point secured it did enough to kind of just keep us outside of the relegation zone. obviously, I mean, look, it's the last day of the season on Saturday. We're at home, which is great, but we're playing Salford who are in fourth. I mean, look, they've secured their playoff position. They could potentially still go up automatically if they beat us and Cambridge failed to win So Dave still got something to play for they're not necessarily gonna be on the beach just yet We're gonna have to really sort of go at this and then you've got Harroguer and Barrow sort of sitting just below us the moment and we are literally out on goal difference right we've got we're four goals four goals better off so we've got Barrow versus Newport i mean that's huge ⁓ i mean ideally if they could both just draw and disappear out of league two that would do us a massive favor and Harrogate play Barnett who you know they're they could they could potentially still nick into the playoffs if Swindon and Chesterfield lose. So we're looking for a massive favour from CABBY to kind of do that. yeah, I mean, look, think come Saturday we're all going to be Barnet and, you know, Newport fans to hopefully send Harrogate and Barrow down and we stay up. I mean, look, it looked a little bit rosier just before the end of the games on Saturday. It looked like we were maybe going to be a little bit further up the league than we are. So how are we feeling ahead of the last game of the season Jack Nervy?
Jack Flory: I mean, yeah, obviously it's the last game of season. We are on a four goal difference. It's not really a place I thought, a place many fans thought we wouldn't be in. A few months ago when we got relegated from League One, they were expecting at least try to get mid table and it's kind of gone the opposite.
Bradley Flory: Yeah, I I said Alex Ferguson once said squeaky bum time.
Asa Finch: Yeah, I mean it is a bit like that. Yeah, I mean, you know, everyone's nervous, but I think sometimes also it's nervous energy, you know, I think I'm going in with being positive because that's what we've got to be. have, everyone's got to stick together. Everyone's got to get behind the team. We've got to go in positive, even though maybe the prospect of relegation is sort of scary and stuff. We've got to be positive. You know, this is League Two. Anything can happen.
Bradley Flory: Slim.
Asa Finch: you know, anyone can beat anyone as we always say. So we've got to go in and put up the fans need to sing in full voice and then, you know, hopefully that carries out onto the pitch and we can have a great day achieving safety.
Bradley Flory: See you. I yeah, 100%. We all remember the last home game of the season last year. It was our second to last game of the season last year. And we went down by a point in the final minute, I think it was. And that was a horrible experience. No one's... I don't suppose too many people are keen to experience that again this year. I think if we bring that atmosphere, if we bring our support, you know, obviously I've said it before, the devil zone was built on a premise of let's just always support the team, right? We will pick it apart on podcasts, we'll look at tactics, all of that. But for those 90 minutes, when we're in the stadium with those players, we back them 100%. percent right everyone's going to make mistakes on the pitch that's life and we're able to discuss those things but we have to give them the support and give them an opportunity and I think what I would say to anyone listening that is going on Saturday if we go a goal down let's not let our voices drop let's not let the hedge drop because we've shown we've got the character and we definitely kind of can get back into it I mean look what I find quite interesting. I'm just having a look here. you know, this season. Scott Lindsay averaged 0.8 points a game. Since Colin's come in, it's 1.3. If we can hopefully find a way to kind get it over the line, invoke that kind of spirit of last year where we've managed to get sort of, you know, right behind Scott and the team when he came back, then hopefully we can sort of find a way to move it forward. Obviously, one of the... the fun things I like to do is have a look at the kind of last time we played at Crington and how the team has changed since then. So I'm just trying to find the home game. Go on.
Asa Finch: Also, I was going to quickly add as well that when you compare it to last season, we're going into the final game and it's still in our hands. And I think we've got to play on that aspect, that factor. It's in our hands. That's what we've got to use as a positive going into it. And yes, and build on that really.
Bradley Flory: 100 % 100 % And look, know, the first game this season, 29th of November, ⁓ they beat us 4-3. So it's not, you know, it's not impossible for us to get a result against them. There's definitely... You know, they're not infammable. They're a really good side. They're at the kind of right end of the table, obviously. And they are in a position they would expect to be in, given, you know, the money that's behind that club and obviously who is behind that club. Then you'd have to say, yeah, right, they're where they should be. They've got... They've got some good players, but I don't recall being sort of massively impressed with them the first time round. And they've quietly gone about their business this season. think if you, you know, I remember going to see Crawley away at Bromley and I said to Jack at the time, you know, they looked like they were gonna be right up there. They were challenging, they looked... they looked at a completely different level to us. Dare I say it, MK Dons have done what MK Dons were probably hoping they could do last year when Scott went there and they had an injection of cash. They've sort of achieved that. Salford have just quietly sort of strutted along and picked up results. I don't think they're exceptional. Whereas when Bromley came to the Braw Field, it felt inevitable after the first goal that Michael Cheek was gonna get that hat trick. So they're good side. I mean, look, I'm just having a look here, so. ⁓ who scored for us in the first game. had Harry Forster and Jay Williams and an own goal. had Jojo was in goal that day. I think that was in his little spell. had a run, he, with the Bromley game and then into a couple more. Badgerami. Jay Williams, Harry Forster, Louis Watson started that game. Josh Flint, Reece Brown, Louis Flower started that game but came off for Kehiem Dixon. uh, shaman guest They started in that game. Adi Amo started Pereira came on for him. Um, and McCurdy started and roles came on for him. I mean, I'm just looking, you know, you look at a couple of their players, there's some sort of big names in there. I mean, the obvious one was they were able to bring on Fabio Barini of Chelsea, Liverpool and Sunderland, right? So that
Asa Finch: Thank
Bradley Flory: tells you maybe the financial level that they're operating at compared to us. What do you want to see? If nothing else, forget three points, forget a win, what are you hoping to see from the team on Saturday?
Asa Finch: Look, ⁓ our EFL status is on the line and I think sometimes players of a club, at the end of day, the fans are here. The fans are the ones that are here next season. And obviously some players move on. But what we've, and so sometimes we, what we want to see is players that want it and players that know what this club is about.
Bradley Flory: Yep.
Asa Finch: and the community and how tight-knit everyone is. And they got to know what it means from the fans. And the fans have got to show what it means. And so the players realised that. And so I hope that the players go out there and give it their absolute best, which I know they have, you know, for large parts of season. I know they have completely tried their best. But we've got to push right into the last moment. We've got to say, switch on, switched on and... I just want to see them give everything for the badge because it is a massive match in the club's history and that's a fact.
Bradley Flory: Absolutely. Okay, Jack, would you, if you were Colin and you were the manager, would you approach this like a cup final? Forget everything else, a draw's no good to anyone, let's just go out and try and win this game. Because in reality, a draw could save us and a draw could send us down, right? So the only way that we... 100 % stay up is we have to go out and win right and that that would keep us up in our position So would you just set the team up and say to them? This is it. You've got 90 minutes Come what may just go and have a go at them
Jack Flory: Yeah, that is kind of the perspective you want, but at the same time, other than Colin telling them, like, throw your best team out there, try your best. It's not about, I know it's all about trying your best, but at this point, you're in the final game of the season, that this is like the cup final, kind of. It's not like a prepare yourselves, go out there and do a job. It's fight. You have to, I said this last time, it's a fight. You have to stay in a fight. You're going to want to want it to, if your EFL status, the club is on a line to stay in League 2 or to go down. A draw could, like you said, keep such and us down. Ideally, you want to win. You want to try out there, fight your way through this very tough to crack Salford team and just try and just break him down or win, get three points and hopefully stay in League 2.
Bradley Flory: Okay, so you two are a lot younger than I am and I remember going to town mead, I remember going to the Brawfield stadium, I remember the dark days of the Beezer Homes Football League. So Yeah, I remember those days of the Beezer-Holmes League and the very muddy pitches and part-time football. You guys probably only ever remember Crawley as a football league club. the kind of, you know, we've had some highs. My question to you this week, I'm going to leave out the stupid one because I think it's too important this week. Is this a bigger game than the League 2 Playoffs final for Crawleytown? Asa.
Asa Finch: It's a great question because my answer to that is yes because I think you have to look at the long-term consequences of this. Going down a club our size, we know how tough it is to get out of the National League. There's only two places up for grabs.
Bradley Flory: Yep one up. Rochdale got 106 points and didn't come up.
Asa Finch: cut, they might not go up. And that's the reality of it. And it's bonkers, it really is. But you think in terms of sort of expenses, ⁓ we won't have as much coming in, people are gonna lose their jobs, it's gonna have detrimental consequences for the club. And that's why I think in terms of the importance of the club's future, I think it is bigger.
Bradley Flory: Okay, Jack, same question to you. Do you think it's bigger than the League 2 player final?
Jack Flory: In my opinion, is most definitely more important than the playoff final because when it was the playoff final, it was like, if we win, we go to League One, but if we lost, we'd have another season in League Two, try and rebuild on this. This is a dramatic kind of ending because it's like, you win, we keep our status in EFL for another season, hopefully rebuild on that and do better to finish higher places, trying to go back to those playoff days, mid-table, hopefully. But if we lose, it's in this perspective of we are going to the National League where it is quite literally an Everest to climb up back out of the National League. It is a tough, it's a tough league in English football. It's a league you need a lot of teams on. You need a lot of points for that to come back. But at this point, it's like you've got to stay. You have to do this.
Bradley Flory: Big teams, big teams. So talking in the National League, congratulations to our not so distant neighbours, Worthing, on their promotion into the National League. With all due respect, I don't fancy in a way Day at Worthing next season. I would much rather stay in League Two. I mean, look, let's see. ⁓ I guess come Saturday we will... have our answers, we sure. reconvene we will chew over the Salford game and maybe some sort highs and lows of the season next week. Hopefully planning for a season in League 2 next year. In the meantime, if you want to sign up for our supporters podcast that we're going to run over the summer talking about why you support Crawley, your favourite members, those sort of things there's a form you can fill out on our website at the devilzone.uk Look out for us on Saturday we'll be about doing the fan interviews prior to the Salford game Hopefully, you know some some buoyancy and some fun around that Let's really get behind the team this week and let's make it a really hostile atmosphere We've done it before we did it to Fulham in the Carabao Cup a few years ago We did it to MK Dons in the first leg of the playoffs You know, I remember that night Jack and I both kept saying, you know, the players really wanted it. And I think, you know, the thing that was always stuck in my mind from that first leg is a couple of minutes in, we'll write clearing it off the line. If that goal goes in, everything changes, but the desire, the want to get there, everyone just needs to hopefully have a little bit more in their step and a little bit, maybe just a little bit more kind of quality on the ball and be brave and see where that takes us. Obviously for some of these players, potentially the manager, this could be their last appearance at the Brawfield Stadium because there will inevitably be turnover over the summer. So, you know, I'd encourage everyone to at least stay to the end, regardless of result, to kind of clap the guys off because, you know, like you said, Asa, you know... Quality is one thing, desire, passion, I think that's been there. I genuinely don't believe any professional footballer goes out not to try. I genuinely don't believe that. You can make mistakes, you can not follow the tactical advice, all of those sort of things can happen. But I definitely don't think these guys work as hard as they do to become professionals.
Asa Finch: So, I'll you
Bradley Flory: to not go out and give 100 % on a Saturday or a Tuesday or a Wednesday night. So, you know, hopefully the sun will be shining, little cricket are coming down with their foods. Asa, thanks for joining me. Jack, thanks for joining me. And come on you Reds, let's get three points on Saturday.
Asa Finch: Thank you. on your apps.
Jack Flory: Come on you reds.
Asa Finch: You're it.
