Scott Lindsey hails ‘unbelievable character’ as Crawley triumph at Bradford

By Sports Desk January 06, 2024

Scott Lindsey praised Crawley’s character after they scored twice in stoppage time to clinch a dramatic 4-2 win at Bradford.

The visitors had been trailing 2-1 before Adam Campbell’s 85th-minute equaliser.

They then went on to complete a stunning comeback with Danilo Orsi and Klaidi Lolos scoring in the 10 added minutes.

Manager Lindsey said: “It was a big victory. We showed unbelievable character and sometimes that wins you games.

“We weren’t at our best and they’re a really good side. We defended brilliantly and resiliently and kept believing we could get something from the game.

“Even when we brought it back to be level again, we still had that endeavour to go and win it. I’m really proud of the players.

“Graham (Alexander) is a great manager and they’re a really tough side to play against. They asked a lot of questions of us but we dug in deep and showed brilliant character.

“I remember speaking to the players in pre-season about having a good dressing room, being able to tidy things up so when anyone is being unprofessional the others pull them into line.

“I said how important that togetherness is and how it can win you games. We’ve built that and I’m so pleased.”

Orsi, who has scored four goals in two games, had headed Crawley in front in the first half.

Liam Ridehalgh equalised and then the home side went in front. Corey Addai appeared to have saved Andy Cook’s penalty but the ball rebounded over the line off his ankle.

But Campbell equalised before Orsi restored Crawley’s lead with his fourth goal in two games and substitute Lolos blasted a fourth.

Bradford manager Alexander was shocked by his team’s second loss in a week.

He said: “The scoreline doesn’t reflect the overall game but we have to take it on the chin.

“We changed our mindset after going 2-1 up and allowed them to come back in.

“We went to protect the lead instead of staying on the front foot. We became flat as a team.

“We became a back five with too much space for the midfield to cover and they played through us and got the equaliser.

“It was a real harsh lesson for us in how good we’ve been at pressing teams and not allowing them easy space. It was too easy for them to play through our team.

“We’ve been so good at being aggressive in our pressing. Sometimes you make mistakes and get away with it but we haven’t done that today.

“There was almost a sigh of relief after we got in front. But that has relaxed our minds and we went about it the wrong way with the way we finished the game.”

Related items

  • Correa 'showed what he can do' against Verona, says Inzaghi Correa 'showed what he can do' against Verona, says Inzaghi

    Simone Inzaghi says Joaquin Correa "showed what he can do" as he inspired Inter to a 5-0 win at Verona on Saturday.

    The Argentine made his first start of the season, scoring a goal, registering two assists and striking the woodwork twice, as he stepped in for the absent Lautaro Martinez and helped Inter move top of the table.

    Each of Correa's three away goals for Inter in Serie A have come at the Bentegodi against Verona, while he both scored and assisted in a single Serie A match for only the second time, after July 2020, for Lazio against Brescia.

    "Correa deserved this chance for how he's been working since June, he showed what he can do," Inzaghi told a press conference.

    "I'm happy for him. In addition to being a great player, he's a good guy who continued with his work despite some mistrust."

    Inter scored at least five goals in the first half of an away league game for only the second time in their history in Serie A, after their 5-1 win against Sampdoria in the first 45 minutes of play back in March 1964.

    Last season, Correa was sent on a one-year loan to Marseille and was expected to leave Inter for good as the French club had an option to buy the player.

    Upon his return, the 30-year-old made three appearances in the first 12 league games, entering from the bench at Monza, Udinese and Roma before he was selected to pair up with Marcus Thuram from the start against Verona.

    Correa opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a chipped finish after a precise pass from Thuram. He then returned the favour and teed the Frenchman up to double the lead in the 22nd, before setting up Yann Bisseck for the fifth before the break.

    "It wasn't difficult because my team-mates helped me and were happy when I scored," Correa said.

    "I wanted to do the back heel for Bisseck, but there was also a bit of luck. There are a lot of good guys here, we have to continue like this."

    Inter next host RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday, and they may still be without Martinez, who fell sick when he returned from international duty.

    "We need to see how the virus evolves," Inzaghi said. "Last night he had chills and this morning he had a fever of almost 38 degrees.

    "I had [the same virus] too, skipping training on Monday and Tuesday. In any case, he would have been [resting] on the bench today even if he had been here. We'll see."

    Martinez scored in both of Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay (2-1) and Peru (1-0).

  • Girona 4-1 Espanyol: Miovski bags double as hosts ride on first-half blitz Girona 4-1 Espanyol: Miovski bags double as hosts ride on first-half blitz

    Bojan Miovski scored twice as Girona thrashed Espanyol 4-1 in LaLiga at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Saturday. 

    Bryan Gil and Ladislav Krejci were also on the scoresheet as the home side raced to a 4-0 lead inside the first half hour, with Javi Puado scoring the visiting side's only goal after the break. 

    After the match was halted because of a fan being taken ill in the crowd, Gil opened the scoring when he unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the bottom corner with four minutes on the clock. 

    Gil was behind the second goal for Michel's side too, as he capitalised on a defensive error and crossed to Miovski, who made it 2-0 in the 16th minute before the pair combined again for a third five minutes later.

    Donny van de Beek's header from Yaser Asprilla's corner was pushed in by Krejci for Girona's fourth in the 27th minute.

    Espanyol got a consolation goal 10 minutes into the second half when Puado hit a long-range strike that found the back of Paulo Gazzaniga's net.

    Girona, last season's surprise package, climbed to fifth in LaLiga with 21 points, while Espanyol are 19th and in the relegation zone with 10 points.

  • Guardiola acknowledges Man City 'are fragile' after fifth straight defeat Guardiola acknowledges Man City 'are fragile' after fifth straight defeat

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that he is in new territory following their 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, which was their fifth on the bounce.

    But despite that, he was not going to hit the panic button, with his side second in the Premier League table and five points behind leaders Liverpool.

    "We are fragile at the moment, we could not defend properly. We started well, struggled to score and then conceded. Then the situation is more difficult," he told Sky Sports after the match.

    "I've been here as a player, maybe not as a manager, first three games at Barcelona we lost. [In the] last eight years, the results have been there, it would be a mistake to change the approach.

    "There are no fairytales in life and sport, sometimes you have to live through these situations. You have to accept it. You can't blame each other, stay together, continue to do what we have done.

    "Run away? Absolutely not, we have to stand up more than ever. What will define us is when we fail, we stand up and face it."

    Guardiola is by some distance City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies at the club, including each of the last four Premier League titles.

    His side visit league leaders Liverpool next week and could trail them by eight points by the time kick-off comes, with Arne Slot's side playing a day after City this weekend.

    "I don't know what will happen this season, but not for one second will I not believe in these players," said Guardiola.

    "There is no team in the world that can sustain success for eight, nine, 10 years in a row.

    "Of course, everything is not fine, but what we try to do is analyse it, let's go to next game and see what happens."

    On the individual performances of his players, Guardiola lamented the fitness issues that his side has faced in recent weeks.

    "Chances were there. The moment they create the chances, the build-up, we couldn't handle the duels like normal. Now we're struggling a little bit," he told BBC Sport.

    "It cannot happen. When you play top level teams, we can concede chances but it's part of process. In our situation, it's a bit tougher.

    "The players came back late [from international duty]. There were a few reasons we're not able to be consistent.

    "Of course, Rodri is important, but we knew that for many months. But [John] Stones can only play 45 minutes, Jack [Grealish] has been injured many times, Kevin [de Bruyne] two months and five months.

    "We have to come back and freshen our minds. The season is so long, many things can happen."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.