Matt Pole is I'm joined by Brighton & Hove Albion writer Derren Howard, Crawley Town expert Mark Dunford, and Sam Morton, who covers both the Seagulls and the Reds.
Brighton’s winless run continued as they were beaten 3-0 at Bournemouth on Sunday.
We’ll pick over the bones of Albion’s latest defeat, and bring you some excellent news from Crawley Town.
You can read all the stories we are talking about with videos and pictures online at SussexWorld.co.uk/sport, and you check out other great videos on ShotsTV.com and Freeview channel 276
Brighton’s winless run continued as they were beaten 3-0 at Bournemouth on Sunday.
We’ll pick over the bones of Albion’s latest defeat, and bring you some excellent news from Crawley Town.
You can read all the stories we are talking about with videos and pictures online at SussexWorld.co.uk/sport, and you check out other great videos on ShotsTV.com and Freeview channel 276
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SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to another episode of the Goldmouth Action Podcast where we take a look at all
00:04the latest goings on at Brighton, Hove Albion and Crawley Town. I'm Matt Pulp and this week
00:09I'm joined by Brighton, Hove Albion writer Darren Howard, Crawley Town expert Mark Dunford
00:13and Sam Moran who covers both the Seagulls and the Reds. Brighton's win this run continued
00:18as they were beaten 3-0 at Bournemouth on Sunday. We'll pick over the bones of Albion's
00:22latest defeat and bring you some excellent news from Crawley Town. You can read all the
00:26stories we are talking about with videos and pictures online at sussexworld.co.uk for
00:30staff support and you can check out other great videos on shotstv.com and Freeview channel
00:35276. You may also be watching on latest TV so thank you very much for tuning in. As Brighton
00:41are in relegation form we have also relegated them to the second half of this podcast and
00:44with good reason to as Crawley Town's 2-0 win over Grimsby secured their spot in the
00:49League 2 play-offs and sparked euphoric scenes at the Borefield Stadium at full-time. Some
00:54of that performance up for us please Sam Morton.
00:56That was fantastic Matt. It was obviously a do or die game for Crawley Town. They had
01:02to win and they had to rely on other results going their way elsewhere and it went perfectly
01:07for them really. They got the result they needed and they managed to get into the play-offs
01:12sparking jubilant celebrations, all the fans ran to the pitch and it was a thoroughly professional
01:17performance in such extreme pressure really. You never could have told. I think we noticed
01:23in previous games that maybe the pressure was having an effect on Crawley, especially
01:27as Sutton ended up really nervous. You didn't really see any of that. They got the early
01:32goal that we were discussing was so vital for Giannino Rossi and Lollos made it 2-0
01:38which is exactly what they needed and it was a really routine performance. A lot more comfortable
01:44and routine than I expected really and the fans obviously just absolutely loved the manner
01:51of the victory and obviously the news came at the end of the game they were in the play-offs
01:54and it was a historic moment and one that will go down in the record books and in the
01:58memories of all the Crawley Town fans really. So yeah, a really brilliant day for the club
02:03and fingers crossed they can continue to form and into the play-offs.
02:08Yes, absolutely. The Reds will now meet MK Dons over two legs in the semis. The first
02:14leg will take place on 6th May at the Broadfield Stadium with a return leg taking place three
02:18days later. How do you rate Crawley's chances against Milton Kingsmark? I think we've discussed
02:23off-podcast that it's quite a nice draw for them considering the geographic location of
02:27the teams that are left in the play-offs.
02:30Oh, absolutely. Yeah, geographically it's perfect for Crawley because there's only a
02:34couple of hours trip in it there on the Thursday for the second leg. Part of me thinks that
02:41this is probably who they would have wanted in the play-offs given what's happened this
02:45season because they beat MK Dons. I think they were the first side to inflict a defeat
02:49on MK Dons in August when they won 2-1. Gold of the season contender from Danilo Orsi winning
02:59the game there and then they lost 2-0 in December. It was the end of December the 29th I think
03:03it was. So it was a night game, right? Yeah, horrible fixture. But they absolutely dominated
03:09that game but they just could not score. I think they had like 18, 19 efforts on target
03:14or something or one shot on goal and they just could not score. I think MK Dons got
03:19an early goal and a late goal just to sort of condemn them to defeat. So I think Crawley
03:26feel they've had the better of MK Dons this season on the whole. Whereas you look at the
03:31other two teams in the thing, Doncaster and Crewe and Crawley have lost both times to
03:37both of those teams. So I know it's play-offs and that but psychologically it always helps
03:42if you're playing a side that you know you've got won over so far this year. So yeah, it's
03:47a huge game. I think they can win. I think Crawley think they can win. I think Scotland
03:54definitely thinks they can win. I went to the ground yesterday while the fans were queuing
03:59up to get their tickets. There were big long queues yesterday. People were waiting for
04:03a couple of hours to get their tickets for Monday's game. I chatted to a few fans, you
04:10can see the video on sussexworld.co.uk, but they all seem very confident. I don't think
04:17they think this Crawley team can fail now. It just seems to be this thing, right, we're
04:22getting to Wembley and we're winning it. So it's the first time they'll ever get there,
04:26first time they've ever been in the play-offs and confidence is very high in the Crawley
04:30town camp, let's say that. So I think they stand every chance. But MK Dons, they won't
04:36be a rollover, obviously. But it's that thing of momentum, Crawley just getting in the play-offs
04:43in the last game of the season, that gives them that little boost. MK Dons, they've been
04:47there the whole time. They always knew they were going to be there. Is there a little
04:51bit of, I don't know, like Ramsgate, you saw Ramsgate, they've almost won the title, they've
04:56lost the title and then they lose to Chichester City last night, finishing 20 points ahead
05:00of them. I know it's a completely different level, completely different thing, but you
05:04see it happen all the time. Doncaster, I think, will be the favourites for the play-offs because
05:10of that momentum. But Crawley will be there. They've had that boost of getting there and
05:15they're riding high at the moment. So, yeah, I'm confident.
05:19What's the view from the MK Dons camp going into the semi-finals, Sam? How do they view
05:23this tie?
05:24Well, the manager Mike Williamson said he's preparing his side for a difficult couple
05:29of games in a recent quote that came out from a press conference. So, obviously, in
05:34the regular season, as Mark said, Crawley evicted Doncaster, their first defeat of the
05:39season back in August. So, they probably will harbour memories of that and know what to
05:43expect when playing against Crawley. And they'll probably be looking to make amends for that
05:49when they return to the Broadfield Stadium. But as Mark said, they'll be looking to make
05:53a quick return to League One after being relegated last season. So, they're obviously going to
05:58be favourites for the game just because of that. But I think in a player's form, it completely
06:02goes out the window. In that sense, it's going to be who can deal with the emotion of it
06:07and the pressure that comes with it. And obviously, as we've seen from Crawley, they haven't performed
06:11the best when the crowd has been full, obviously, when they had the £2 tickets. So, just fingers
06:18crossed they can perform better because, obviously, we are anticipating a sell-out crowd. The
06:24demand has been something we've not seen for Crawley tickets before. So, just hopefully
06:28they can deal with that kind of added pressure of playing in front of more fans. But as Williamson
06:35said, they're going into a tough semi-final against a team who play good football. And
06:41they were really good when they went away for MK Dons as well. And he actually thought
06:44Crawley were the better team, despite MK Dons coming out on top on the day. And he actually
06:49said that, like Kingpin Dons, Crawley, when they get it right, are really hard to stop.
06:54And it will just be who can deal with the pressure on the day and who performs the best
06:57over the two legs. So, yeah, definitely a lot of respect between the two managers and
07:02the two teams, I think.
07:03I think, yeah, that's the thing. They're two really good, so it should be a good game whatever
07:08happens. And it's just, like Sam says, it's the pressure and that. But it'll be interesting
07:14if Lindsay gets one over Williamson, because Williamson has been nominated for Manager
07:18of the Year, obviously, and Lindsay did not.
07:21Yes, it does smack of silly in the hindsight that he wasn't even nominated,
07:25does he, considering the miracles that he's worked, isn't it, Mark?
07:28Yeah.
07:28His biggest belief.
07:30Oh, it really does. It's crazy how he has not been nominated for Manager of the Year.
07:34I read a piece earlier on one of the betting sites just saying who's been the best manager
07:38in League Two this year. And it was all the top five managers, and Lindsay was top. And
07:42just saying, just with what he's got to work with, where they were, he's just done an incredible
07:47job. He's said it time and time again. It's been great.
07:52Absolutely. And I've seen that Gillingham have lost their manager as well. Mark,
07:56has the rumour mill kicked into gear again?
07:59Well, betting odds have. Lindsay's second favourite with a couple of the betting sites
08:03at the moment. But it was funny, I saw a couple of Crawley fans, keep your hands off this
08:08man, and they're showing Lindsay celebrating with Crawley. In the Gillingham statement,
08:14it said that they were looking to make a quick appointment. Obviously, Lindsay's not going
08:18anywhere in the next couple of weeks. So, it depends how quick. I think Gareth Haynesworth
08:21was a favourite with some of the bookies. So, we'll see. But yeah, I don't think it's
08:27going to be quite like it was in November with the rumours going around and all that.
08:31But if I was Gillingham, I'd want Scott Lindsay.
08:35Absolutely. And yeah, I'd say he's also been linked with the Stevenage job, or had been
08:38linked with the Stevenage job, hadn't he? So, he's very much a man in demand at the moment.
08:42Finally, the Reds held their end-of-season awards on Sunday. Mark, you were in attendance,
08:47dishing out awards. How was the night and who won what?
08:51Yeah, it was a really good night. I mean, I can't imagine what it would have been like if
08:54they hadn't qualified for the playoffs the night before. But it was a really good atmosphere.
08:59There were fans there, there were players there, staff, all the players' girlfriends,
09:04wives, etc. So, yeah, it was a really nice atmosphere at Lingfield Race Park.
09:10Well, I handed out, obviously, the biggest award of the night, Crawley Observer Player of the Year.
09:15We gave it to Will Wright. He's been a bit of an unsung hero, I think, this year.
09:19Scored some cracking goals. But, yeah, he's just been so consistent and he's played, I think he's
09:23played 40, I think he might have played 44, 45 of the 46 league games. And, yeah, it was nice to see
09:31a bit of reaction on Twitter with that, saying what a good choice that is. Because Danilo Orsi
09:36won two awards. He won the Community Champion for doing his trademark celebration, which is the
09:43horse, I'm going to do it, riding the horse. And he's raising money for charity while he
09:49does those celebrations and he's done it 21 times this year, which is great.
09:53Clydie Lollos won the CTSA Young Player of the Season Award and I think that's well deserved.
09:58He's been a revelation this year, Clydie Lollos. He was playing for Oxford City last year, mental.
10:03Goal of the season went to Lollos for his brilliant strike against Harrogate Town.
10:08Player of the season went to Jay Williams. I would have loved to have put up his full
10:13acceptance speech, but it was not for the young ears. We haven't interviewed Jay Williams this
10:20year and I found out why on a Sunday night. And Orsi won the Player of the Year, which is voted
10:28for by the fans. And Liam Kelly was the GH coaches away player of the season. That was all the
10:36people that travel on the official coaches for the Crawley Town games away. They all pick them
10:42out of the match and they get points. They pick their top three in first, second and third and
10:46that's how Liam Kelly won that. And I think he only won by like 0.5 points or something. It was
10:51very close. So yeah, really good night and a great way to end the regular season. But all the chat
10:57was right, let's go to Wembley and win it now.
11:27Albion's best day at the office, probably one of their worst displays of the season, I think. And
11:31it really just highlighted how far their levels have dropped really since the beginning of the
11:36season. But Bournemouth have been, you know, they look pretty good. They've been on a good run of
11:47form under their Areola and they were just too good for Brighton. And it just really highlights
11:53how far Brighton have fallen since the start of the season. And they were third in the table when
11:59they played Bournemouth in the reverse fixture earlier this year. And they're just absolutely
12:05not even close to that level at the moment. And in recent games, they've been beaten by
12:12Arsenal and Man City comfortably. And you sort of think, well, you know, fair enough,
12:16you know, Brighton aren't at that level. But against Bournemouth, you expect them to compete
12:21and, you know, for the match to be competitive. And it just wasn't. Brighton, you know, as soon
12:26as they went a goal down, the confidence just drained completely from the players. And, you
12:32know, they've got a tough job now to pick it back up. They really don't want to end the season,
12:36you know, on a whimper really. And every place in the Premier League is worth, you know, around
12:42about three million in prize money as well. So the difference between, you know, losing the next
12:48four games and perhaps, you know, picking up some positive results is quite a bit financially.
12:54So they're going to have to find, the players are going to have to find themselves, you know,
12:58some motivation from somewhere to finish the season strongly, really.
13:04Well, absolutely. Kind of on touching on that note, post-match Deserby said he still had big
13:08confidence in his players. But Sam, do Albion look like a team of just bereft of confidence
13:13at the moment?
13:14Yeah, they absolutely do, to be honest, Matt. As Darren said, it's difficult to explain why.
13:21Obviously, the injuries are a big factor, but they have dealt with those largely well
13:25throughout the season. But they've just suddenly hit a wall. And I don't know if that's because
13:29they've kind of just been maybe just playing so many games with the same kind of players
13:34and had to deal with so many injuries and just hit a point where they just can't keep going,
13:38maybe. I don't know. But they didn't win a single game in April and scored one goal.
13:43That was that crazy own goal at Burnley. So, not the greatest goal of the month contender.
13:51So, a bit of a shame in that sense. But yeah, they haven't won a game since obviously that
13:56second leg against Roma or Rome. So, yeah, it's a tough one, Brian. They do look a team
14:04bereft of confidence, to be honest. And Deserby said he actually thinks the players are lacking
14:10motivation, which the fans weren't too happy to hear. I think someone was saying,
14:13why should they bother to turn up if the players can't find motivation kind of thing?
14:17So, yeah, I don't know kind of what's happened. Lots of players are out of form.
14:21Obviously, Jan-Paul van Gekker is added to the injury list. And that was obviously a big miss
14:24at Bournemouth because he's been so crucial this season. And he definitely could have made a
14:29difference in that game. But obviously, they've had a really tough run in. And Bournemouth was
14:35looked at as a game where if they were going to get another point in the season, it would be there.
14:38And you kind of do worry for them now with the games coming up, whether they will get another
14:41point in the season with the form and the confidence they've got.
14:46Well, inevitably, questions surrounding Deserby's future have begun
14:49cropping up after the Bournemouth result. BBC pundit Chris Sutton said the Italian wants out
14:54and had lost motivation, while Richard Queaze made quite the bizarre claim that Brentford boss
14:59Thomas Frank was set to replace the Italian this summer. All that aside there, how do you view
15:04Deserby's current situation at the club?
15:07It's an interesting one and I don't think it's very clear. And I think any fans that went to
15:12the fans forum or watched the fans forum on their YouTube channel yesterday, probably won't be any
15:19clearer either. Because Deserby was asked directly, you know, do you want to be here? And his answer
15:24was cryptic to say the least. It certainly didn't clear anything up. Paul Barber said that he's been
15:32bringing him croissants and coffee every morning in an attempt to keep him happy and to keep him to
15:37stay at the club. I don't know. It's going to be very interesting to see. He just shows a crazy
15:50world of football. Six weeks ago, he was linked with Man United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona,
15:56Serie A clubs. And now there's talk about him being sacked, you know, and it's just,
16:02you know, how it's going to pan out. I'm not sure. I think Deserby wants a few assurances.
16:06I think this latest run has sort of hit home what he's hinted at from the beginning of the season,
16:14that the squad probably wasn't strong enough. The Europa League and the injuries have just really
16:20scuppered them. So I think Deserby wants a few more assurances and then we'll see what happens.
16:27But yeah, it's a question. Four more games to go, see how they can finish up and then I think
16:31they'll reassess everything. But I think the Benham, the Thomas Frank ones, an interesting
16:37call from Richard Keyes. Where that came from, I don't know. And it would be certainly interesting
16:41with the Tony Blue, Matthew Benham history between each other. It would be difficult to see that one
16:48coming off. But I don't know about you guys, but I look by everything Richard Keyes says.
16:55The Oracle, isn't he? Very strange.
16:59Yeah, that was a weird one, but I don't know. But yeah, we'll see what happens with Deserby.
17:07Yeah, I mean, I kind of feel like I'm just hammering home all the negativity in this
17:11section. But this season, I think should have been remembered as a campaign where Brighton
17:15went toe to toe with some of Europe's biggest clubs. But Sam, do you think without being now
17:19winless in the Premier League in six, are those memories in danger of being overshadowed by this
17:23horrible end of season run? I don't think so. I think it's still
17:27an historic season and those memories of what they did at Ajax, for example, and Athens and
17:35Marseille even as well, coming back from two goals down and just getting through that group,
17:40which was considered to be the group of death and getting as far as they did
17:43and going to play Roma. And obviously it didn't go the way they wanted it to go, but they
17:49kind of saved a little bit of face in the return leg. So I think the journey they went on in Europe
17:54was so good and so memorable and the experiences it gave the fans and everything. I don't think
17:58you can really overshadow that. It's obviously a shame that it's ended this way and they haven't
18:03managed to secure another season in the Europa League. Yeah, you just kind of wonder where
18:12they're going to go from here. I think it's going to really send a strong message to the
18:15board. If they want to keep this derby, they're going to have to just put their hands in the
18:19pocket and strengthen the team. But I think it was going to come a time when if you kept letting
18:25your best players go, it's going to eventually have an impact. And I think it's only so long
18:29bright to go, kind of somehow replacing everyone and still performing at the same level before it
18:35probably did unravel. Probably not as quickly as it's happened. So I just hope that
18:42they can quickly get back on track, make some good signings in the summer and have a strong
18:45season next year. I think if they don't get into Europe, it might even benefit the team
18:52in the Premier League sense and actually play once or twice a week, obviously, in the cup and
18:56can get back into the swing of things. And obviously, if the derby is there, time will tell, I guess.
19:04Absolutely. But Brighton's search for a Premier League win won't get any easier.
19:08They entertain Champions League chasing Aston Villa on Sunday.
19:11How do you see this one going, Deren? Any bit of positivity for Brighton fans?
19:17Yeah, it's going to be a tricky one again. And just on that previous one as well,
19:22two years ago, probably finishing 12th would have been a really good achievement for Brighton. It
19:27just shows how the expectations have gone. But yeah, Brighton were thrashed 6-1 by Villa in the
19:34reverse fixture earlier this season. And on current form, you'd probably say that Brighton
19:40would be worried that a similar scoreline could be on the cards again. But my gut feeling is at
19:47home. I don't think Brighton can be as bad as they were, again, against Bournemouth. I think
19:52there will be an improvement. I think Billy Gilmore, having him back in the midfield was
19:58helping. It was only his first game back against Bournemouth. And I think having himself,
20:02Pascal Gross and maybe Boliva in that midfield as well could help. Boliva's looked a bit better
20:08as well in the second half of the season. He's had a few more opportunities. But it's going to
20:12be very difficult. You know Emery's team, they've been the story of the season this year. I think
20:17what they've done, Aston Villa has been remarkable. I think Ollie Watkins has been excellent and
20:25probably should be going to the Euros with England as well. But they haven't had too many
20:31injuries either. I think they've had a fairly settled team and they've been able to make the
20:38most out of that. But what they've done is great. And Brighton are really going to have to put that
20:45Bournemouth display behind them and try and find, as Deserby says, the motivation to finish the
20:51season strongly. But when Brighton get it wrong, they really get it wrong. 6-1, 4-0 to Man City.
20:59It's going to be a tricky one.
21:30Sam Morton, how do you see those games going?
21:34I'm going to go for similar. I think Rory will come out of top over the two days, 2-1.
21:39Tight.
21:41Tight indeed. Aaron, how do you see that one going?
21:43Yeah, I was going to say 2-1 as well. I think it's going to be very cagey. I've just got a
21:50feeling that Scott Lindsay's got something. I think they're just going to edge it.
21:56And who will they be playing in the final then, Mark, if they get there?
21:59Doncaster. One of the fans said to me yesterday,
22:04we've got as good a time as any to beat Doncaster for the first time this season.
22:07That Wembley.
22:08Absolutely. And yes, finally, Brighton against Fela on Sunday.
22:13Deron, how do you see that one going?
22:15I'm going to go for a 2-2. I agree with you, Matt. I think there's going to be goals.
22:21I think it's going to be 2-2 as well.
22:25Sam Morton, how do you see that one going?
22:27I can't see it.
22:343-2. 3-2, Aston Villa. 3-2. Mark, do you agree?
22:40Yeah, 3-1, Aston Villa.
22:44A positive end to the season for Brighton.
22:47Thank you very much, as ever, chaps. You can catch up with all the latest sports news covering
22:51everything we've talked about today at sassworld.co.uk forward slash sport and you can watch
22:54more excellent videos on shotstv.com and freeview channel 276. Before we go, I'd like to congratulate
23:00as well Three Bridges and Chichester City for reaching the Isthmian South East playoff final.
23:04Best of luck to both teams in the final. Thank you very much for listening and we'll chat to
23:08you all next week.