Crawley Town face Northampton Town in their last home game of the season in League One as they look for survivial. Here is Scott Lindsey's pre-match presser in full
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00:00A very exciting game coming up at the Broadfield Stadium this weekend as we host Northampton.
00:03Can I get you a thought set of that one?
00:06Yeah, obviously an important game, a big game for us.
00:09We've got to win.
00:10So our minds are all focused fully on that.
00:15So we spoke this morning, debriefed the game from Monday and spoke this morning.
00:22And we recognised what we've got to do.
00:24And we've got two big games, two games we've got to win.
00:29And what will be, will be.
00:33And that's what we've got to do.
00:34So yeah, we're really focused on that.
00:36We're at home, which is a massive positive, big plus.
00:41We're good at home.
00:42Fans are good at home.
00:44Fans are good away.
00:45But we like being at home.
00:46So yeah, really looking forward to the game.
00:49Yeah, and it is one of those, obviously, edgy fixtures where we're relying on results going away elsewhere.
00:55Knowing that we have to win, are you planning on not telling the players anything
00:58during the game on the basis that regardless of what happens there, we need to win?
01:02Or will it sort of be a constant line of communication?
01:03Yeah, I think, no, I think we've got to just really focus on us.
01:06And like I say, I've said that this morning in the meeting with the players that what we've
01:12got to do is, is do what we can do, which is win two games.
01:16And if, if Burton win or Bristol Rovers win or something else happens, that's completely
01:26out of our hands.
01:26We can't affect that.
01:28But what we can affect is our two results.
01:30We've got to make sure that we get two positive results.
01:32And what will be will be.
01:34What we don't want to do is, is, is drop points.
01:39And that's the reason why we've gone down.
01:41Do you know what I mean?
01:42We've got to make sure that we've got to go and win our games now.
01:45And, and, and if, if, if Burton win or Bristol Rovers win or, you know, then we can't do
01:53anything about that.
01:53That's, that's out of our hands.
01:55But what we can do is we can do something about the next two games that we play.
01:59Um, and that's what we've just got to focus on and end of the day, you know, I come in
02:06here with nine games to go.
02:08We were 12 points behind and to say that we're still in, in the mix, we have two games to
02:15go, I think.
02:16So credit in itself, um, the players have got to take a lot of that credit.
02:20Yeah.
02:20And obviously we know survival is still up for grabs, but are you also going to be using
02:23these final two games to sort of have a look at how players are performing?
02:26Cause obviously we know contracts are up for grabs in the summer as well.
02:28Well, I've been doing that since I've come in, you know, I've been watching, you know,
02:33closely, uh, uh, every training session, uh, how, you know, behaviors are with players
02:40and how they, how they perform on a match day, how they are around the building.
02:44I've been assessing every single one of them from, from the minute I walked into now and
02:49I will be doing that moving forward.
02:50And, um, yeah, so that's kind of an ongoing thing anyway.
02:54Um, I think it is with every manager.
02:56Yeah.
02:57Yeah. And we spoke about how young the group is, how have they been sort of dealing with
03:00their pressure building up to this game?
03:02Cause I suppose a lot of them wouldn't have had a situation like this where it is literally
03:06almost do or die status for, you know, the club in league one.
03:08So how's their sort of moving in camp and how have you been managing that?
03:11It really good, like really good.
03:13I think that the players can't wait to, for Saturday to come round again.
03:17I think they can't wait to get out there and perform again in front of the crowd and
03:20fans have been good.
03:22It's been, it's been pleasing to see that the fans really support the team.
03:26Um, and I think it's really clear that the players are having a real, real go at trying
03:32to stay in the division.
03:32I think that's really clear.
03:34Listen, we, in the games that I've been here, we've, we've played seven, you know,
03:39won three, lost three, drawn one, I think.
03:42Is that right?
03:43Yes.
03:43Um, you know, and we've done extremely well and there's been some games where we, we've
03:48run it close, the Peabra game.
03:50I feel, I felt that we were very good on the night and there's been games where we've played
03:54half a game, you know, the late, late in Orient game.
03:56I thought we were good in the first half, not so good in the second half.
03:58Steven has kind of probably looked a little bit fatigued in that game, um, because it was
04:05the, the final Saturday of a three game week.
04:07Um, but I think the players have done extremely well and I think that, like I say, credit to
04:13them to, to be still, or us to be still in, in the mix with two games to go after, after
04:18what we've been through.
04:19And I think that the players got to take a lot of credit and, uh, I think the players are
04:26also really excited about playing at this time of the season with something to play for.
04:32Well, listen, it's the wrong end.
04:35We, we know that last season was a completely different feel.
04:37We were at the, the, the best end of it.
04:40Um, unfortunately we find ourselves at the wrong end, um, but it's still something to
04:44play for.
04:45So there's still excitement involved.
04:47Um, and we have to, we have to embrace that and just take on the challenge and that's it.
04:52And like I say, two games to go, let's win two games and then see what happens.
04:56Yeah.
04:57We spoke on Monday about the, the changes made and also some of the positive, um, performances
05:01from those coming off of the bench.
05:02Have you got sort of a selection headache to make at the weekend or is it still really clear?
05:06No, it's no headache.
05:07No, it's never, it's never an headache when you've got, when it's so clear to you, it's,
05:11you know, it's never an headache.
05:13I think it's really clear to me anyway, um, what the team should look like for, um, for
05:20Saturday.
05:21Um, and yeah, we, we'll, we'll prepare the team as we have today.
05:26We'll do again tomorrow to put some more detail into them and, and go and attack the game.
05:30Perfect.
05:31Thanks.
05:33Northampton, the team that obviously haven't got anything to play for, that doesn't mean
05:37you prepare any differently for that, does it?
05:38And what sort of threats do they pose?
05:41Oh, no, we never, we'll never prepare differently from any game.
05:43Every, every game's a process.
05:45Every game, it's like clockwork.
05:46We, we do the same thing every, every game we play in.
05:49What's their threats?
05:51Um, they're a team that, uh, quite aggressive, very direct, play for set plays, um, long throws,
06:00free kicks, corners, put it in your box, um, really test you out, really ask questions
06:05of you from, from a defensive point of view.
06:07So, and they've got good players who can do that as well, you know?
06:10Um, so yeah, it's going to be a tough challenge.
06:14You're right, they're, they're in effect, um, their season's done in a, in a way.
06:19But if you speak to their manager, he will say that he wants maximum points out of their
06:24remaining games.
06:25That's because we're professionals, right?
06:27And that's what we all want, you know?
06:30So they won't be down in tools, no, no doubt.
06:32And we know it's going to be a tough game, but they're, they're a very competitive team.
06:38They're aggressive on the press.
06:40They're, um, aggressive in the tackle.
06:42They're, you know, a, a, a real strong kind of like physical team that will ask a lot
06:48of questions of you.
06:50Yeah.
06:50And you said the players take a lot of credit for still being in, in it at this point after
06:55being 12 points behind when you came in, but you must take a lot of pride in what you've
06:59done since you've come back in as well.
07:01Um, yeah, but I don't, I don't really want to talk about like that.
07:06That's, you know, I think that all I've done is guide the players a little bit, you know,
07:10and, and try and give them a little bit more belief than what they had.
07:14And, um, and I think that the players are really fighting for one another, fighting for
07:19the cause.
07:20I think it's really clear to see and they've been brilliant.
07:23I've got to be honest with you.
07:24I've really enjoyed my time back, really enjoyed it.
07:28It's, it's, it's felt you wouldn't think that we're in a relegation battle.
07:33You know, I, I feel at ease.
07:37I feel as if I enjoy my work.
07:41I, I love driving into the stadium every day, um, being with the lads, being with my staff.
07:47It's a fantastic club to work for.
07:49I love match days, seeing the fans, um, watching us perform.
07:54I've really enjoyed this time and I feel as if we're not, I don't feel any pressure.
08:00Um, I think it was probably maybe because we had so many, we were so many points behind
08:08with nine games to go that, you know, there's probably everybody written, written us off
08:13already, which is kind of how I like to work anyway.
08:16And, and we've just gone about our job and I've always said, will we make it?
08:21We might, we might not, but you know, it is what it is.
08:25We can't, we can't change what's happened in the past.
08:27Like I've said in numerous kind of interviews, we can, we can't change what's happened, but
08:32what we can do is try and shape what it looks like moving forward.
08:35And I think we've done that really well.
08:37And I, and I want to continue that, you know, I'm desperate to stay in this division, by
08:41the way, just to make sure that I'm really clear with that.
08:44But if we don't, we don't, we just start again next year, you know, and, and that's just it.
08:50Yeah.
08:50Well, um, one of the players that's done really well since you've come back is Roshan Hepburn-Murphy.
08:54We spoke to him after a game on Saturday and he said it'd been a frustrating season for
08:59him because in some periods he was playing on the left, he wasn't playing at times.
09:02But he said he was glad you were back because you know how to get the best out of him.
09:06Can you give us any kind of insight how you get the best out of Roshan?
09:09Yeah, I just trust him.
09:09I trust him to do the job that I asked him to do.
09:12You know, I want us to press really hard and fast and high up the pitch.
09:16Um, and he does that really well.
09:18You know, his second goal, actually, the goal kick before the goal kick where he scored,
09:23he pressed the action really well, which made the goalkeeper kick the next one, which
09:28then we pick possession up and then he scores.
09:31So, had he have not pressed the first one, he probably wouldn't have scored that one because
09:35the keeper would have tried to play again, you know.
09:38So, a lot of work that he does, probably unnoticed by many, certainly gets noticed by myself.
09:44So, you know, I think that he gives a lot to the team.
09:48Um, I think one thing that's, that's really clear to me is that defenders don't mind marking
09:57big, strong, powerful centre forwards.
10:00Um, but they don't like marking pace.
10:03No.
10:03Defenders do not like marking pace.
10:05They hate it and it's one thing that's unstoppable.
10:08Um, you know, you can, you can defend against a big, strong, powerful centre forward.
10:14You can defend against, um, you know, players who are kind of nimble with the ball and drop
10:19deep and play like a, like a soft nine stroke ten.
10:22You can deal with that.
10:23But one thing you can't deal with, especially at this level with his pace.
10:27Um, and he's got pace to burn and once he gets opened out and runs, um, there's no stopping
10:33him.
10:34Um, and he's probably not scored as many goals as maybe he should have.
10:39Um, and we spoke about it.
10:41We certainly since we've been back means Neil Smith, my, my system, we've spoke to him about
10:48trying to be in, in, in the six yard box a little bit more.
10:51And you look at the goals he scored on Saturday, both were in the six yard box, you know, and
10:55that's why we want him.
10:56Um, cause that's where strikers get their, you know, get their money, you know, that's
11:00where they earn their corn.
11:01So it's important that he keeps doing that.
11:03But like, listen, he's, he's been brilliant.
11:05I know that he works hard.
11:06I know that he, um, he presses that and, and, and kind of,
11:10does the uncompromising things really well.
11:13Um, so yeah, I think he's been brilliant since we've come back in.
11:17And we've talked about other results this weekend and that out of your control, but you
11:21will know the Bristol Rovers result before you kick off on Saturday.
11:24Is it frustrating that at this time of the season when there's so much at stake, pressure
11:28on teams and that, that not everyone's playing at the same time?
11:31Yeah, kind of.
11:32Yeah, I think so.
11:33Um, probably spoils it a little bit, doesn't it?
11:35Yeah.
11:36I didn't think of that, but yeah, it probably does.
11:38Um, it's probably nice to, and also you don't, you don't really want the players to turn
11:42their head before the game.
11:43No.
11:44Do you know what I mean?
11:45You want the players to be really focused on our game.
11:46And if, if the result's not what we want, then maybe it puts a bit of a doubt in the
11:51players before they go out.
11:52And that's my job then to knock that doubt out of their heads as quick as I can to, to
11:56make sure that they're really focused on our game.
11:59Um, so yeah, I agree with that.
12:00I think it should be all at the same time, especially like you say, this time of the season.
12:04Um, and final one from me, um, last couple of games, obviously you've been up in the
12:07stands.
12:08You've said you've been talking to Tobias Phoenix and that.
12:10He's someone that the fans haven't really got to know yet.
12:13I just wondered if you could give us an insight into your relationship with him and what he
12:16brings to the party as it were.
12:18Tobias is, uh, he's brilliant.
12:20Uh, I, I've got a really good relationship with him.
12:23He completely understands me.
12:26He completely understands, um, kind of how I see the game.
12:31Um, he asks a lot of questions.
12:34He's, he's a good person to be around.
12:37I actually like his company, really good guy.
12:39Um, and he wants what's good for the club, you know, which is the most important thing.
12:45He wants the club to really do well.
12:47And to be honest with you, the work he puts in is, is, is top class.
12:52You know, he works really, really hard.
12:54Uh, I can ring him at three o'clock in the morning and he's answering his phone.
12:57He's one of them, you know, and, and he never stops working.
13:00And if I ask him to do something, he'll be done yesterday, you know, and, um, if I,
13:06if I want to look at a player and he'll know something about his knowledge,
13:09he's really good of players at this level as well.
13:11Um, so yeah, great relationship with Tobias.
13:14I think he's really good for the football club.
13:16Um, and yeah, I, I, I just enjoy being with him and I enjoy our conversations.
13:22Yeah. Good guy.
13:23Really good guy.
13:24Brilliant. Good luck signing.