- 2 weeks ago
Matt Pole is once again joined by Brighton writer Derren Howard, Sam Morton, who covers both Albion and Crawley Town, and Reds expert Mark Dunford.
Brighton enjoyed a winning return to Premier League action, picking up an impressive 2-1 home win over Newcastle - but there was more doom and gloom at Crawley, who slipped into the League Two relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury.
This week, the boys take a look back at Albion’s excellent win over the Magpies, preview the Seagulls’ trips to Man United and Arsenal in the league and cup, pick over the bones of the Reds’ disappointing loss at the Shrews, and ask where Crawley go from here.
Brighton enjoyed a winning return to Premier League action, picking up an impressive 2-1 home win over Newcastle - but there was more doom and gloom at Crawley, who slipped into the League Two relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury.
This week, the boys take a look back at Albion’s excellent win over the Magpies, preview the Seagulls’ trips to Man United and Arsenal in the league and cup, pick over the bones of the Reds’ disappointing loss at the Shrews, and ask where Crawley go from here.
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00:00Welcome to the latest episode of the Goldmouth Action Podcast, where we take a look at all the latest goings-on at Brighton, Hoth, Albion and Crawley Town.
00:07I'm Matt Pohl, and this week I'm joined by Brighton writer Darren Howard, Sam Morton, who covers both Albion and Crawley Town, and Reds expert Mark Dunford.
00:14Brighton enjoyed a winning return to Premier League action, picking up an impressive 2-1 home win over Newcastle,
00:20but there was more doom and gloom at Crawley, who slipped into the League 2 relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury.
00:26This week we'll look back at Albion's excellent win over the Magpies, preview the Seagulls' trips to Man United and Arsenal in the League and Cup respectively,
00:33pick over the bones of the Reds' disappointing loss at the Shrews, and ask where Crawley go from here.
00:38You can read all the stories we are talking about with videos and pictures online at sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport.
00:44And we will start at the Amex, where Danny Welbeck rolled back for years as his late winner continued Newcastle's miserable record at Falmer.
00:50It looked like Albion were going to have to settle for a share of the spoils after Nick Voltomar, the superb finish, cancelled out Welbeck's first half opener.
00:57But Welbeck won the game for Brighton in the closing stages, sweeping home from the edge of the box to leave Newcastle stunned.
01:03It was a great win, wasn't it, Darren? I've read online that some have called it Albion's best performance of the season.
01:08Would you agree with that? And how did you see things overall?
01:11I'd certainly say it's up there with their best performances this season.
01:16The ones that come to mind, you sort of think Manchester City, that was very impressive how they fought back from 1-0 down to win that 1-2-1.
01:25So, yeah, it was a very, very good performance.
01:28And I think what pleased most fans, and particularly Fabian Herzella, was the intensity that they showed sort of almost every press conference you go to, that's the buzzword that he uses, that and trust the process as well.
01:44Those are his two catchphrases.
01:46And I think they really, really did deliver on the intensity for the full 90 minutes as well.
01:52What I particularly liked is how they started the second half as well.
01:56Obviously, they got their noses in front with Danny Welbeck's goal.
02:01And then I thought, well, if they sit back, it's really going to be a long, you know, a long second, 45 minutes.
02:07But they went out on the front foot and attacked Newcastle and really should have been two, maybe three, three nil up before Watermeid had, you know, his moment of magic to level the scores.
02:22And we're still, Sam and I were talking after the game, we're still trying to work out how Watermeid did that finish.
02:28It was so, such a classy, classy moment.
02:32Even Van Hecker was speaking afterwards about how, you know, it was just, he thought he had the situation under control.
02:39The cross came in, the ball was clearly behind him, but it was, it was a great goal from Watermeid.
02:44He was good on the day, actually, really, really good player.
02:47But Albion, you know, they kept pushing and it was that man, Welbeck, again, who delivered a sublime finish.
02:54Max Whiffer, who was very impressive from right back, he burst forward.
02:58And it was a great tackle because he was about to shoot and then Dan Byrne flew into the tackle.
03:03And it looked as though he'd cleared the danger, but the ball fell to Welbeck just on the edge of the box.
03:09And he was the calmest man in the stadium, just picked his spot, had no chance.
03:14And it was, it was three points.
03:16So really good performance.
03:18I quite liked Jorginho as well.
03:19I thought he was back to his best as well.
03:21He played in a number 10 role, which is his best position, had a nice assist for Welbeck.
03:27Duncan Van Hecker as well.
03:29They were good at the back.
03:30Max Whiffer, I mentioned him as well.
03:32But a special mention as well for me for Yassin Ayari.
03:36I still don't think he gets the credit he deserved.
03:39He's up against Gumeres and Joe Linton in the middle of the park.
03:42And I thought he was excellent.
03:44Very, he's such a supreme athlete.
03:46He covers all, every sort of blade of grass.
03:50And I think his range of passing is underrated as well.
03:53So, yeah, great, great player.
03:54And he was key in everything that Brighton did to get the three points.
03:59Well, Welbeck shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
04:03The former England international has now scored four goals in his last three games against Champions League opposition in Newcastle and Chelsea.
04:09I remember plenty of eyebrows being raised when Brighton signed Welbeck on a free transfer in October 2020,
04:14following his reach by Watford having to injury.
04:16And he was never quite prolific enough.
04:19But, I mean, he must surely now be up there as Albion's best value for money signing ever.
04:24Probably between him and Pascal Gross then.
04:26Yeah, it's got to be, I think.
04:28And he's just evergreen, isn't he?
04:30Just every time you think that he might start kind of easing his way out a little bit,
04:35he just proves everyone wrong.
04:36Because I know he obviously got those two goals against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge off the bench.
04:41And that was so impressive.
04:43And that was a real high point of the season so far.
04:45But then he did have quite an off day at Wolves.
04:50And he was probably at fault for that first goal with a kind of a half-hearted clearance for the header.
04:55And that obviously led to the goal.
04:57And he wasn't his best going forward either.
05:01His kind of touch wasn't quite right and wasn't really involved in the game.
05:04And there were some question marks about Fabian Herzl's decision to then start him again against Newcastle after the international break.
05:12And I think his decision was well justified with Wolves' performance.
05:19Because he just showed yet again why he's just one of the best kind of finishers around.
05:24And the composure that he showed from that free bill from Jorginho for the first goal.
05:30Just to do a little dink over the keeper to open the scoring.
05:33I think it just kind of shows his class really.
05:37And obviously he got the winning goal as well.
05:39And you kind of thought the game was edging towards Newcastle after the equaliser.
05:43That he just kind of had his experience.
05:45He's in the right place at the right time to sweep home the winner.
05:48And that took his tally to the season to four.
05:51So he's averaging a goal every two Premier League games.
05:55And yeah, he's again showed he's the man for the big occasion.
05:58Obviously all four goals coming against Chelsea and Newcastle.
06:02And I pointed this out in another episode.
06:05But Welbeck is actually the first player to score against Newcastle.
06:09When Newcastle were the away team this season.
06:11They had not conceded a goal away from home before going to the Amex.
06:14So again, it shows they're a good defensive team.
06:17And I've said a really good win against Benfica in the Champions League just a few days after the map.
06:22So it does go to shows a really good win for Brighton.
06:26And on match today on Saturday night, host Gabby Logan said Welbeck is ageing like a fine wine.
06:31And he's on to score more goals in his 30s than he did in his 20s.
06:34Only five more to equal his 20s total.
06:37And as he's 34, it's feasible that he'll do that before.
06:40He's 35.
06:41And the fact that he's scored more Premier League goals per game in his 30s than his 20s just is incredible, really.
06:46It does definitely seem like he's getting better with age.
06:49And he said himself in interviews that he's feeling fit and strong and only was to score more and more goals.
06:56And there's even been talk of him being involved in the England squad as well, which you can see mine and Darren's chat about in our previous episode.
07:03But yeah, I think it's fantastic that Welbeck's doing as well as he's doing and all may it continue.
07:09Yeah, could not agree more.
07:11Since Fabian had Sellers' appointment in June 2024, Fabian have clawed back more points from losing positions than any other Premier League team.
07:20It's safe to say this Brighton team never gives up, Darren.
07:22Fabian have struck late this season to take points off Chelsea, Wolves and now Newcastle.
07:26How impressed have you been with the Seagulls' never-say-died attitude in recent weeks?
07:31Oh, sorry, chaps.
07:37Yeah, I guess there's a couple of ways to look at it.
07:40One is, you know, that they can see stupid goals and don't manage their games properly.
07:45It's always falling behind.
07:48But then you have to give so much, that's probably a bit harsh, but you have to then give so much credit to them that they're a team that always shows the spirit and the fight, you know, in almost every Premier League match.
08:01And they're very rarely out of a game.
08:03I think, obviously, last season they had that disaster at Nottingham Forest where they were, you know, hit for seven.
08:10And other than that, you know, you'd have to say that Brighton have been competitive in every match I can remember under Herzella, bar very few, you know, very few exceptions.
08:23And I think that's also testament to the, you know, the fitness of the team as well, that they're capable of, you know, pushing and pushing all for the 90 minutes or often 100 minutes, you know, just to keep going to the end against these teams.
08:38And that's with, you know, they've had, Herzella's been quite unlucky with the injury issues he's had at Brighton as well since he's been there.
08:46And despite those issues, they can still find a way to go to the end and keep in these matches against, you know, the best teams in the division.
08:57Also, I think when you look at it, you have to say that they've also got technically gifted players as well.
09:02So when, you know, when defences are tiring in, you know, in the closing stages of the match and perhaps extra gaps appear in the opposition's defences,
09:11then the likes of sort of Mitoma, Welbeck, Minta, Jorginho, you know, they all have the quality to be able to exploit that.
09:19So I think that's, you know, that's, you can't get away from that sort of factor either.
09:24If you're in defence and, you know, your sort of legs are cramping in the final moments, the last thing you need is Yankouba Minta sort of, you know, bombing full pelt at you.
09:33So I think, I think it's a combination of all of those factors really.
09:37But on the whole, I think Brighton fans and Herzella himself would probably agree that it would be nice not to have to fight back all the time.
09:44It's, it would be far less stressful if they can stop conceding these goals in the first place and getting the job done early on.
09:51But, but yeah, you have to give credit to the, to the fighting spirit.
09:55Yeah, absolutely.
09:56Well, Brighton travelled to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the top flight on Saturday.
10:00The Red Devils are enjoying something of a purple patch, having won three of their last four Premier League games.
10:06Last weekend, Harry Maguire's late head of security United's first win at Liverpool in nearly a decade.
10:10It's safe to say that United will be buoyant after Sunday's results, Sam.
10:13How do you see this one going?
10:16United are a bit of a enigma at the moment, aren't they?
10:19And what's the latest news from the Albion, injury news, sorry, from the Albion camp?
10:23Yeah, I think this, it is all set for a really entertaining match, I think.
10:28Obviously, we know that Brighton's record against Man United is, is very strong.
10:32They often do go to, to go to Old Trafford and win, and especially in kind of recent times,
10:38it's been a game that Man United just can't buy a win, really.
10:42And obviously, they had that success in the FA Cup, they obviously went to penalties.
10:46But really, apart from that, it's been all Brighton in recent years.
10:51And Brighton will be confident they can go there and get another big win.
10:55But Man United have leapfrogged them in the table.
11:00They're not based Brighton in 10th, just the one point between them at the moment.
11:05And that's all because of Man United's win against Liverpool, Anfield, first win Anfield in nearly a decade.
11:11No one saw it coming.
11:13I think even with Liverpool's poor form, I think everyone expected Liverpool to be, wanted to bounce back from that.
11:20And surely, they wouldn't lose four games in a row.
11:22But that's exactly what happened.
11:24I think Man United were really impressive in the way they went about the match.
11:29Obviously, scoring really early on, looking to hold on to that.
11:32You knew that that was unlikely to be the only goal in the game.
11:35And obviously, Liverpool did get their equaliser.
11:37But then you just, in a similar kind of way to Brighton-Newcastle, actually,
11:40you felt like the team that equalised would then go on to win the game.
11:45But the opposite thing happened.
11:47And it was obviously Man United that went and won it in the same way as Brighton did.
11:53And so a great header from Harry Maguire, who's obviously, again, like Welbeck,
11:58proving he's the man for the big occasion as well.
12:01And as I say, it's going to really kind of lift the spirits in the camp of Man United,
12:06who will be, I'm sure, bouncing in Old Trafford after that, after a big win over their rivals.
12:10And they've obviously got three wins in the last four games now, two in a row,
12:16after their win against Sunderland.
12:17So it's going to be a tough one for Brighton.
12:20And I think, obviously, Brighton's good form going into it, five unbeaten in all competitions.
12:24It does make for a really entertaining match that I'm really, really looking forward to.
12:28And obviously, you've got that subplot of Carlos Baleva as well,
12:33who's linked to Man United heavily in the summer and hasn't had the best of starts the season,
12:39as we've discussed a lot on the podcast.
12:42But it'll be interesting to see if he performs well to try and maybe encourage them to come back in fifth
12:49in future windows.
12:51You never know.
12:52But I think it's going to be a great game.
12:53I'm really looking forward to it.
12:55Yeah, it should be a great game.
12:56Abbey and them face Arsenal at the Emirates and the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
13:00The Gunners currently sit at the Premier League Summit after eight games,
13:03three points clear of second place Man City.
13:05Tough draw for the Seagulls, Derren.
13:07How do you see this one going?
13:09Do you think both sides will make changes?
13:11If so, do you think they'll benefit Brighton?
13:14I don't know how much of a priority the Carabao Cup will be for Arsenal,
13:18considering where they are in the league.
13:19What do you reckon and how do you see it going?
13:21Yeah, it's an interesting one, isn't it, in terms of sort of how Arsenal prepare for this one.
13:26And I expect quite a few changes.
13:29But just looking at Arsenal, they had such a good summer transfer window.
13:34And you'd think that Arteta, you know, he's got more than enough top-level players
13:39to manage Champions League, Premier League and the domestic Cups.
13:43So I think, you know, Brighton are really going to be in for a tough evening at the Emirates Stadium,
13:50their third away match in succession in the Carabao Cup.
13:54So, so far they've beaten, it's going to be a real test.
13:57So far they've beaten Oxford 6-0, then beaten Barnsley 6-0 as well.
14:01So I think this is really going to be, you know, a step up in level.
14:06But, so I don't think there's going to be another 6-0.
14:10But I'd expect Jason Steele to be in goal for Bartford Burguden.
14:15He's started so far in the Carabao Cups.
14:19Diego Coppola, probably.
14:22Oliver Buscagli, they'll likely be the centre-back pairing.
14:26Players like Maxime de Kuyper, who need the minutes, will feature as well.
14:31Aldi Kuyper and Wifa are just coming back and finding their top form after recent injuries.
14:37So it could be, could be a chance for those guys as well to get more minutes.
14:41But much will depend on how they get on at Manchester United.
14:45As Sam mentioned, Carlos Belieber hasn't quite been at his best,
14:48but hopefully he can, you know, progress as well and play against Arsenal.
14:52But personally, I'd like to see Kostilas and Tissimas and Watson go from the start against Arsenal.
14:59I think that would be great to see, you know, real fresh young attack in this.
15:04And I think that's what these competitions are for, to put out your strongest team,
15:08but also to give the, you know, the likes of these young players a chance in this competition as well.
15:14And then now I'd have to see with the injuries that they've got at the moment with Brian Gruder to Karamatoma,
15:19how they're, you know, how they're going to be managed in the next couple of games as well.
15:23We'll have to wait and see.
15:25But, yeah, it's going to be a good contest against a very strong Arsenal team.
15:31Yeah, absolutely.
15:32Best of luck to Brighton on the road this week.
15:34I hope you put 28 past Arsenal.
15:36I don't like Arsenal.
15:38Now we will cast our eye over Crawley Town,
15:41who endured a miserable afternoon at Shrewsbury on Saturday.
15:44Will Boyle's 84th-minute header saw the Shrews move three points clear with the Reds,
15:49who dropped into the League Two relegation zone.
15:51And Crawley also saw striker Harry McCurdy sent off in the 65th minute for an off-the-ball challenge on Luka Hall.
15:59Not great again, Mark.
16:01Where did it go wrong for them?
16:05Well, I think, I know we're going to come into a bit more depth what Lindsay said about McCurdy,
16:08but that had a lot to do with it, I think.
16:11He had a goal disallowed, then he got sent off.
16:14The goal was, the disallowed goal, by all accounts, was onside, but it was ruled offside.
16:21But we'll do Mark's weekly Reds stats roundup.
16:26Again, Crawley had 67% possession, 15 total shots, only three on target.
16:34Possession-wise, they did 483 passes compared to Shrewsbury's 220,
16:42so literally doubled the amount of passing.
16:44Their XG was better.
16:46Their XG on target wasn't better.
16:48But it just, I don't know, it's just not clicking.
16:53The amount of times I've read out stats like that,
16:56the Cambridge game was another one where they lost three, one away,
16:58where they dominated the game, had more chances, had more possession,
17:02completed more passes.
17:04It's just not clicking.
17:07I mean, I'm sure you ask any Crawley fan.
17:09Those stats, they'd rather have two shots on goal and win 2-0,
17:15have 10-20% possession.
17:17They'd rather have that than have that.
17:19But, I mean, they're exciting to watch at times
17:23because they do create those chances.
17:25And if they weren't creating chances,
17:26there would be a big, big problem, wouldn't there?
17:29But they are.
17:30But they're just not converting.
17:31And it's just not clicking.
17:33Harry McCurdy, he's had his golden season
17:35under Scott Lindsay before at Swindon.
17:37Danilo Orsi had his golden season, didn't he?
17:40They just haven't got a proven goal scorer.
17:44Ryan Loft, we know, hasn't had a season
17:47where he's scored 20-odd goals,
17:49but a journeyman kind of thing.
17:51They just haven't got that prolific striker.
17:54I mean, McCurdy just shows all the potential of being that.
17:58But it's just not clicking.
18:01They're creating a lot of chances.
18:02Are they creating the right chances?
18:03What is the right chance?
18:05I don't know what the right chance is.
18:06But, yeah, it's just not clicking at the moment.
18:09And maybe something has got to change,
18:11but Scott Lindsay's not going to change his style.
18:14So they're going to continue to be possession-based,
18:16continue to create chances.
18:18They're just all hoping that it clicks
18:20and somebody gets on the end of those chances.
18:23Is the team going to be on the end of an absolute bathroom
18:26from Crawley at some point?
18:27I don't feel it is this season.
18:29You felt that during the promotion and running season.
18:31But at the moment, it doesn't feel like that's going to happen
18:34because it just hasn't got the same atmosphere
18:36as it did during that promotion-winning season.
18:39But who knows?
18:41Hopefully, they've got Bristol Rovers at home.
18:43It's a great chance to have that, turn it around.
18:46But it just doesn't feel quite right at the moment.
18:49Yeah, we'll explore both those points a little bit later on.
18:51But as Mark alluded to, Reds manager Scott Lindsay
18:54pointed to two key decisions that cost his side at Shrewsbury.
18:58What were those decisions, Sam Morton?
18:59And what did Lindsay have to say about them in particular?
19:03Yes, so he, again, criticised the officials.
19:06The Reds had, obviously, a Harry McCurney goal ruled out,
19:10as Mark said, before the same play was sent off
19:12for a second book rule offence.
19:13And Lindsay said both decisions could have changed
19:16the course of the game.
19:17He said, it probably led me in trouble.
19:19But what's the point in holding back?
19:20Because they're really bad decisions.
19:22Harry McCurdy is two yards on the side for his goal.
19:25And McCurdy slips on the sending off.
19:26And they're just really, really bad decisions.
19:29The first one obviously changes the course of the game
19:30as we go one and up.
19:32And the second one changes the course of the game
19:33because we don't play with 10 men.
19:34We play with 11 if he gets the decision right.
19:36But there you go.
19:37We're about to take Harry McCurdy off at the moment as well.
19:39So it just makes the whole situation a lot worse.
19:41But they're accountable for a lot today.
19:43They're referring to the officials.
19:46But then he said, so are we as well.
19:48But he said the standard of officials this season
19:50is kind of not going in McCurdy's favour
19:54because he doesn't think the standard has been good enough,
19:59quite simply.
20:00But I think Lindsay probably, as he knows himself,
20:04needs to focus on, obviously, the issues that he has in front of him.
20:08And unfortunately, obviously, what the referees decide to do
20:10is out of his control.
20:11And obviously, it's hugely frustrating if they get decisions wrong.
20:15But I suppose the fans probably won't want to hear him moaning
20:17about the officials and decisions when things are as bad
20:20as they are at the moment.
20:22There's probably bigger issues at play rather than just decisions.
20:26But obviously, you can't turn your head away from the fact
20:29that they've had to clear big decisions and go against them on this occasion.
20:33And obviously, it's not for the first time either
20:34that it's gone against Crawley.
20:36But they need to roll their sleeves up
20:38and really, really turn their fortunes around
20:40because it doesn't look great at the moment.
20:41No, it doesn't.
20:43Lindsay also said Crawley Town had become a shadow
20:45of what they really were.
20:47As you mentioned, Mark, with all those stats,
20:49they dominate proceedings at Shrewsbury
20:50will once again fail short where it mattered most.
20:53Quite a big question I'm about to ask you.
20:55But what has gone so wrong at Crawley this season?
20:58We mentioned the stats.
20:59It all points towards the Reds controlling games
21:01and dictating play, but they're just not winning.
21:03Is it the personnel?
21:05Did they make the wrong types of signing this summer?
21:07Has Lindsay lost his touch, potentially?
21:09What do you make of it?
21:11I mean, it could be a mixture of all those things.
21:15Yeah, as I just said previously,
21:17it just doesn't have that same feel
21:19because arguably they've made better signings
21:23than promotion winning season in terms of experience,
21:26league know-how, players that are a bit more streetwise
21:30like Harry McCurdy, et cetera,
21:32someone who knows how to do the dark arts a little bit,
21:35which is something they probably didn't have really
21:37in those maybe Clivey Lollas a little bit.
21:40But it just has not clicked.
21:43And Lindsay talks about he's got to coach them
21:46and he's got to do all this.
21:48But everybody knows, well, we assume Scott Lindsay's
21:51a really good coach because of what he's achieved in the past.
21:54He brings players through.
21:56He's made gems out of people that we've never heard of before.
21:59But it just hasn't clicked the season.
22:02And that surprises me a lot because they've got the basis.
22:05The foundation of the team is really good.
22:07When you look at the Dion Conroy, Josh Flynn, Charlie Barker,
22:11who all played in League One last year.
22:13They've got a good goalkeeper in.
22:16So that basis is really good.
22:18But it's just on that attacking foot, it's just the finishing.
22:22So arguably they haven't got the right strikers in,
22:25but good strikers who are going to get you 20 goals a season
22:28cost you a lot of money and Crawley don't have a lot of money.
22:32So it's not as easy.
22:33You're hoping, as I said before, of a golden season
22:36for Harry McCurdy, for Cabby Schemanga,
22:40all people who have scored goals in the past,
22:42but not at a sort of really good tally, as it were.
22:47But yeah, I don't know.
22:49I mean, I don't feel it's anything Scott Lindsay's doing.
22:53I think it's just the team not gelling.
22:56And yeah, we've said it before and again and again.
23:01In the promotion winning season, they didn't have the best.
23:04They had a decent start, a better start than they had this year.
23:07But in October, they won one point in five games
23:10and they were, everybody was talking all doom and gloom.
23:13Then I remember it all on socials,
23:15but it does, the fans seem to be a little bit more negative
23:19than they were then as well.
23:21They're not seeing, they're not seeing the light
23:23at the end of the tunnel, which they did in that season.
23:26They could see, oh, well, I can see how this is going to turn around.
23:28But this time it's not.
23:29So I can't put my finger exactly what's wrong,
23:32but I just feel there's, yeah, there is something missing,
23:37certainly up top with just the finishing.
23:41I mean, how do you, I mean, I know the,
23:43one of the, Danilo Orsi talked a lot about
23:46Carl Laraman being key in that,
23:48in his golden season.
23:50Crawley haven't got Carl Laraman this year.
23:52They've got Neil Smith though and Jamie Day,
23:54who are both really good coaches,
23:55who have got good track records.
23:57So some of you, it's just,
23:59something's got to click and maybe they need to get somebody in
24:03just for that finishing.
24:04And maybe it's a psychological thing.
24:06And another thing,
24:07when you are at the bottom end of the table,
24:09things go against you.
24:10And they seem to have had a lot go against them
24:13with injury, suspension,
24:15sending offs that might not have been sending off.
24:18So I didn't see Harry McCurdy's two bookable offences.
24:20So I can't comment on that.
24:22But from everything I've heard,
24:24he didn't help himself.
24:25And I know we're going to come on to what he said about that as well.
24:28But yeah, it's just not clicking,
24:30but maybe, yeah,
24:31maybe it's just a psychological thing at the moment
24:33because everything's going against them.
24:34It's hard to keep your head up when that's happening.
24:37Yeah, absolutely.
24:38I'd be interested to know whether you think that Lindsay
24:41is potentially walking a bit of a tightrope at the moment.
24:44It's obviously not gone to plan.
24:46We predicted them to be,
24:47maybe not necessarily challenging for the players,
24:49but around mid-table.
24:51At what point,
24:52I know we obviously don't want him to lose his job,
24:54like Scott Lindsay,
24:56but at what point do you think the board might go,
24:58thank you for all you've done,
24:59but maybe we might need to look elsewhere?
25:03Well, yeah, it's a difficult one, isn't it?
25:04Because I know when the owners,
25:07Scott Lindsay said,
25:08when they got the owners took over,
25:10he said the reason he came back to Crawley Town
25:13was because he knew the new owners were taking over.
25:15So he's obviously got a really good relationship
25:17with Raph Khalili,
25:18Ryan Gilbert,
25:19Max Stroman,
25:20et cetera,
25:21at KB Sport and Leisure.
25:24And he's obviously highly thought of at the club,
25:26but how long do you keep that credit for
25:30that you got them promoted through the playoffs
25:33with just an incredible,
25:36historic,
25:37unprecedented season for Crawley Town?
25:39Surely that only goes so far.
25:41So if these results keep happening,
25:44I mean,
25:44if they lose at home to Bristol Rovers on Saturday,
25:46that's a poor result.
25:47Bristol Rovers are not a good side at the moment.
25:51So if they don't get a result there,
25:54I mean,
25:54but you go back two weeks
25:55and everything was positive again
25:57because they drew,
25:58they held and outplayed the league leaders,
26:01Walsall at the time,
26:02but only drew one all.
26:05And you just think,
26:06there is something there,
26:08it can improve,
26:10but how long do you leave it
26:12if they do keep losing
26:14and keep getting poor results
26:15against poor teams like Shrewsbury,
26:18like Barrow,
26:21well,
26:21Barrow,
26:21not a poor side,
26:22but losing games like that.
26:24So I don't know.
26:26I don't know.
26:27I get the impression
26:29Lindsay will be around most of the season,
26:31but that's with the caveat
26:34if things don't improve very,
26:36very quickly.
26:37If they get knocked out of the FA Cup
26:40at Bore and Wood,
26:42I mean,
26:43the FA Cup won't be Crawley's priority,
26:46but it's always something to do well in
26:48because it does tend to go in line
26:51with league form,
26:52doesn't it?
26:52You win in the FA Cup,
26:53have a good run,
26:54get a big tie in the third round
26:55or see you in the second round.
26:58It can boost everything around the club
27:01and it can help with league performances.
27:03But if they lose at Bristol Rovers on Saturday
27:05and then lose,
27:06go out of the FA Cup at Bore and Wood,
27:08the owners have got some big decisions
27:11to make,
27:11I think.
27:12Yeah,
27:13could not agree more.
27:14All very interesting stuff.
27:16Yeah,
27:16fingers crossed he turns it around.
27:18McCurdy,
27:19who,
27:19as we mentioned,
27:20was sent off at Crown Meadow,
27:21took to Twitter after the loss
27:23at Shrewsbury.
27:24Yeah,
27:25he made a bit of a nuisance at himself,
27:27didn't he,
27:27on Shrewsbury,
27:28it's safe to say.
27:29What did the former Swindon striker
27:30have to say for himself,
27:31Sam,
27:31and what was the reaction
27:32to his post on social media?
27:35Yeah,
27:35so he took to X to have his say,
27:37he posted,
27:38today hurts,
27:38it's easy to feel hard done by
27:40after having a goal disallowed
27:41when you're clearly onside
27:43and getting sent off for slipping.
27:45But then he said,
27:46he didn't help myself at times,
27:48we've just got to dig deep
27:49and keep going.
27:50And there was,
27:51yeah,
27:51a bit of a mixed reaction
27:52that some supporters were
27:53backing him and saying,
27:55we've enjoyed watching you play this season.
27:58As someone said,
27:59I love characters with flair,
28:00keep going,
28:01the game needs pantomime villains like you.
28:03I just thought it was quite funny.
28:05As someone else said,
28:07you should just remember
28:08that you were a role model
28:09to lots of children watching.
28:10The way you reacted
28:11to every decision yesterday
28:12was just embarrassing.
28:14You were offside,
28:14you did dive
28:15and you did catch the player.
28:16You may have slipped,
28:17but you were late
28:18and out of control.
28:19I think that's a little bit
28:20over the top,
28:21especially if he's claiming
28:22he was offside
28:23when it does seem he was on.
28:25So,
28:25a little bit bizarre.
28:27But yeah,
28:27the former Swindon town striker
28:28was one of Crawley's
28:30first summer signings
28:31and he scored four goals
28:32for the Reds this season.
28:34But as we've said,
28:36Crawley are relying on him
28:37to score even more goals than that
28:39if they're going to
28:40obviously move up the table
28:42and obviously they're going to be out
28:44without him now
28:44because of the red card.
28:46So,
28:46even bigger,
28:47bigger issues at play.
28:49It'll be interesting
28:50to see who Crawley go with
28:51to replace him up front.
28:53Yeah,
28:55absolutely.
28:55And as Mark said,
28:56Crawley Town will hope
28:57to get back to winning ways
28:58when they welcome Bristol Rovers
28:59to the Broadfield Stadium
29:00on Saturday.
29:01And as Mark said,
29:02Rovers have been absolutely
29:03rotten in recent weeks.
29:04They've lost their last two games,
29:06conceding eight goals
29:07in the process.
29:08It seems like this is
29:09the perfect time
29:11to play Bristol Rovers,
29:12Mark.
29:12How do you see this one going
29:13and what's the latest injury news
29:15from the Reds camp?
29:17Well,
29:17they've got a win,
29:18haven't they?
29:19I mean,
29:19Bristol Rovers,
29:20yeah,
29:20both those games
29:21were at home as well
29:22and they've conceded eight goals.
29:24So not looking good
29:25at Bristol Rovers
29:26at the moment.
29:26But Bristol Rovers
29:27are probably thinking,
29:28oh,
29:28if you're going to play anyone
29:29when you're in bad form,
29:31play Crawley Town.
29:31They'll play us off the park,
29:32but we'll be able to get a goal
29:34and nick the game.
29:36I mean,
29:36I assume Bristol Rovers
29:37will come and try
29:38and do a smash and grab job.
29:41But Crawley have got to win
29:43and they've got,
29:44it'll be the first game
29:45this season
29:45Harry McCurdy hasn't played in.
29:47So it will be interesting
29:50to see what the dynamic is
29:51and sometimes
29:52when you take a player
29:54out of a team,
29:55it can change something
29:56and it might ignite something
29:57and then that gives Scotland
29:59even more decisions to make.
30:01But he seems to like
30:02having those three forwards
30:03at the moment.
30:04So maybe we'll see
30:04Louis Flower
30:05who scored a brilliant goal
30:07against Leigh-Anore
30:08in the Virtue Trophy
30:09and was really good pre-season.
30:11We haven't seen much of him
30:12in the league.
30:13So maybe he'll come in.
30:15But we've also got
30:16Danny Cashman back.
30:17He came back on as a sub
30:18at the weekend,
30:19which is good news for Crawley.
30:21He looked lively
30:22when he started a few games
30:24earlier in the season,
30:24but then he had that foot injury.
30:26So hopefully,
30:27that's what my instinct tells me.
30:30He'll play Lofton,
30:31Shimanga
30:31with Danny Cashman as well.
30:34So hopefully,
30:36that'll be a really good
30:37attack and forwards.
30:37They've got to attack the games.
30:39Well, that's what they have been doing,
30:40but they've just got to find
30:41that finishing touch.
30:42Cashman scored a lot of goals
30:43for Worthing
30:44in the last couple of years.
30:45I know that's National League
30:46South level,
30:46but maybe
30:48he'll get a goal
30:49and that will be the ignition
30:51that Crawley needs
30:51to score a lot more.
30:53And he'll create a lot as well,
30:54Danny Cashman.
30:55So that'll be really good.
30:57But injury-wise,
30:58we had Badger Army
31:00come back last week.
31:01He had a bit of a
31:01calf muscle knock,
31:03I think it was,
31:04the week before he came
31:04on as a sub of the weekend.
31:05So hopefully,
31:06he'll be back as well.
31:07But waiting for updates
31:09on Adeyemo,
31:10I think Scott Lindsay
31:11said he will be out
31:12for a few more weeks
31:14after his injury against,
31:16who was that against?
31:17Walsall, I think.
31:19Harvey Davis,
31:22he,
31:22there was still a few,
31:23last week,
31:24there was still a few more
31:24boxes to tick
31:26to deem him fit.
31:27So I'm assuming that.
31:28He did warm up,
31:29what was it,
31:30the last home game,
31:32but he still had some
31:33heavy strapping
31:34on his finger.
31:35So they'll be hoping
31:37he comes back soon.
31:38But I don't think
31:38Jojo Wallacott has done
31:39a bad job
31:40since he's come in.
31:41So I think
31:42the goalkeeper situation
31:43seems touchwood okay
31:45at the moment.
31:47But yeah,
31:48I don't,
31:49I haven't heard anything,
31:50anyone else pick up
31:51any injuries from Shrewsbury.
31:52So hopefully find out
31:54tomorrow when we speak
31:54to Scott Lindsay.
31:55But it's going to be
31:56interesting what kind
31:57of mood he's in.
31:58He's normally quite good
31:59when he speaks to it.
32:00But it's going to be
32:01interesting because it
32:02can't be easy at the
32:03moment,
32:03just not seeing why
32:05it's not working.
32:06And he's got a lot of
32:07work on his hands.
32:09He does.
32:10But they've got a win
32:11on Saturday.
32:12It's one of those games.
32:15Yeah.
32:15Yeah.
32:15Well,
32:15fingers crossed,
32:16best of luck to Crawley
32:17this weekend.
32:19I think they're going
32:19to need it.
32:20Score predictions,
32:22we'll start with
32:23United v Brighton
32:23in the Premier League
32:24on Saturday, Darren.
32:25How do you see
32:25this one going?
32:27I think there's going
32:28to be goals in this one.
32:30So I'm going to go
32:30for a 2-2,
32:32I think.
32:32A Welbeck,
32:33yeah,
32:34probably Brighton
32:34coming from back
32:35behind again to get
32:36a draw.
32:372-2,
32:38Welbeck.
32:39Sam Morton,
32:40what do you reckon?
32:41I was actually going to
32:41say 2-2 as well.
32:44Let's go one better.
32:45Let's be different.
32:463-2,
32:46Brighton.
32:48Oof.
32:49It sounds like we're
32:50guaranteed goals,
32:50Mark.
32:51What do you reckon
32:51is going to happen?
32:52Yeah,
32:53I think there'll be goals,
32:53but I'm going to go for
32:55a 3-2 Man United win
32:56just because I want that
32:57guy to get his bloody
32:57haircut.
32:58It'll be Spurs.
33:02It'll be Spurs.
33:03Even if they win this,
33:04I think Spurs is the
33:05fifth game.
33:07Yeah,
33:07they've got a habit
33:11of beating Man United
33:12even when they're not
33:12very good.
33:14Yeah.
33:15United won't win
33:16five in a row.
33:17No way.
33:18It won't happen.
33:19He's going to be there
33:21till at least
33:22the final season.
33:22Why did he say five?
33:24Why did he say five?
33:25I don't know.
33:26I don't know.
33:26Best of luck to him,
33:28more importantly,
33:29I think.
33:29Forget Brighton.
33:30Best of luck to that
33:31bloke.
33:32Score predictions again.
33:33Arsenal v Brighton in the
33:35Carabao Cup.
33:35We'll start with you,
33:36Sam.
33:37Yeah,
33:38it could go either way,
33:38I think.
33:39It could.
33:40A lot's going to depend
33:40on the line-ups.
33:42I do think Arsenal will
33:43rest some of their big
33:46hitters.
33:46I can't imagine they're
33:47going to take this
33:48Carabao Cup too
33:50seriously when you
33:51consider how important
33:51the start race is.
33:52They wouldn't want
33:52anyone to pick up any
33:53injuries,
33:55which I think
33:56give Brighton an
33:57opportunity because
33:57they've been really
33:58good in the Cup.
33:59They've won two,
34:00obviously,
34:02six-nil victories.
34:03So,
34:04I'm going to go with a
34:052-1 win for Brighton.
34:07We're not going for
34:08another six-nil win,
34:09Darren,
34:09at the Emirates?
34:11Keep up the
34:11Carabao Cup streak.
34:12Arsenal.
34:16This is a tricky one.
34:17So much depends.
34:18These are such
34:19tough ones to call,
34:20this Carabao Cup match.
34:21You never know who
34:22they're going to play.
34:23A few,
34:24actually,
34:24I've also got a few
34:25it's Brighton players
34:26as well.
34:26So,
34:27Ben White,
34:27Trossard and
34:28Goykeres.
34:29So,
34:29I'll be interested
34:29to see if they play.
34:30I'm going to go,
34:32goodness me,
34:33I'm going to go 2-1
34:35to Brighton,
34:35I think.
34:37Mark,
34:37what do you reckon?
34:38Do you see,
34:38yeah,
34:39as everyone has said,
34:39it all depends on
34:40the line-ups really,
34:41doesn't it?
34:41I know it's a boring
34:42thing to say.
34:43Yeah,
34:44Arsenal have got
34:45bigger fish to fry,
34:46haven't they,
34:47I think,
34:47than the Carabao Cup.
34:49So,
34:49I think Brighton will win
34:50this one and I think
34:51I'm going to go for a
34:512-0.
34:53Blimey,
34:53yeah,
34:53excellent stuff.
34:54Well,
34:54best of luck to Brighton
34:55this weekend and finally
34:56a very big game in League
34:582,
34:58Crawley v Bristol Rovers.
35:00Mark,
35:00what do you think?
35:03I'm going,
35:04I'm going,
35:05they've got to win,
35:06they've got to win
35:07and they will win
35:08and it'll be
35:08a brilliant performance
35:09and with the way
35:10Bristol Rovers are playing
35:11and their results going,
35:13I'm going for a 3-1 win
35:14for Crawley.
35:16Danny Cashman
35:16to get a brace.
35:18I'll take that
35:19all day long.
35:20Sam,
35:20as we've said,
35:21it's the best time
35:21for Crawley's potential
35:22to be playing
35:23Bristol Rovers.
35:24What do you think?
35:26It is,
35:27it is the best time
35:28to play them
35:28but I don't know,
35:30there's such a lack
35:30of confidence at the moment
35:31they're going to be
35:31without Harry McCurdy.
35:34I'm going to be
35:35a little bit less optimistic.
35:361-1.
35:38Would they take
35:38a draw,
35:39Mark?
35:41No.
35:42No.
35:44Scott Lindsay
35:44will not be happy
35:45with a draw
35:46even if they play
35:47them off the park.
35:49Amazing.
35:49Knowing Scott Lindsay,
35:50he would not
35:52take a point.
35:54Blimey.
35:54No pressure on Crawley
35:55then.
35:55Darren,
35:56what do you think?
35:57A win's a bust?
35:59Yeah,
35:59hook or by crook
36:00they have to get a win.
36:01I was going to ask
36:02about Danny Cashman
36:03actually so I'm glad
36:03he's back.
36:05Yeah,
36:06I think he could
36:07make the deal.
36:07I'm going to think
36:08they're going to grind
36:08out a 1-0 win.
36:09I think Cashman
36:10could be
36:11with his return
36:12coming back.
36:14Yeah,
36:14fingers crossed.
36:15Well,
36:15thank you very much
36:16for joining us
36:16this week,
36:17chaps.
36:17Hopefully next week
36:18we can toast
36:19a long-awaited
36:20Crawley Town win
36:20and don't forget
36:22you can catch up
36:22with all the latest
36:23sports news
36:23covering everything
36:24we've talked about
36:24today at
36:25sussexworld.co.uk
36:26forward slash sport.
36:27As ever,
36:28thank you very much
36:28for listening
36:29and watching
36:29and we will see
36:30you all next week.
36:30Thank you very much.
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