Crawley Town v Rotherham United preview: Rob Elliot looks ahead to League One clash

SussexWorld

Crawley Town host Rotherham United at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday in League One. Rob Elliot looks ahead to the fixture, gives an injury update and his thoughts on Steve Evans' touchline antics.

Transcript

00:00Can you give us your thoughts on the game against Rotherham?

00:05Another good challenge for us. Rotherham are a very good team, very direct obviously.

00:14They're very good in terms of balls in the box and probably actually their league position

00:21doesn't show how well they've played this year and the chances they've created.

00:26They should be a lot higher than they are. We know it's going to be a really tough game

00:30but one we're looking forward to. We've built a little bit of momentum, sort of been solid

00:36over the last few games. It's just another game to try and attack and make sure that

00:41we carry on and keep moving forward, keep progressing, keep the process going and looking

00:49forward to playing at home as well.

00:51We had a really good performance didn't we against Bristol Rovers the last time out.

00:54I suppose the lads will be looking to channel lots of those positives into this game?

00:58Yes, definitely. When we did the review I think the chances that we gave up in the first

01:0410-15 minutes were all of our own doing really in terms of us not being as switched on in

01:10the first 15 and fair play to Bristol Rovers because they started well.

01:14I think once we got through that we controlled the game and dominated.

01:18Obviously we just need to push on to get the goal but we've done a bit of work this week

01:23on that in terms of getting them all in the box, final third entries etc.

01:28Again, it's really pleasing because the finger-writing of the lads are starting to come to fruition

01:33but we still need to keep adding and adding. But no, pleased overall.

01:37Like you say, it's just a nice little bit of momentum we're gathering but we can't take

01:42it for granted because, again, the Rovers are a very good team at a big club.

01:47It must have been nice to have a full week on the training ground.

01:50Or has it been a mixture because I suppose after so many games there's an element of

01:54you want to get some real time at the training ground but also you want to give the lads

01:57some rest as well because we've had so many games recently.

01:59Yes, exactly that. It's the balance between rest and recovery and training.

02:04We had a real hard session Tuesday which was good and we'll obviously probably have more

02:07of a tactical day today and then obviously a build-up tomorrow for the game on Saturday.

02:13Yes, it's just trying to get the balance right at the moment because we are thin.

02:16There are players playing with knocks and injuries but that's the situation we're in.

02:20We can just about name a squad every week so we have to look after the players but also

02:25make sure they're prepped as they can be. But I think full credit to the lads.

02:28They've been incredible in terms of it. They're not wins, they've got on with it.

02:31There are players playing with decent injuries and stuff and we'll hopefully be able to see

02:38in the next couple of weeks players coming back from injuries etc.

02:41and hopefully that will help the squad going forward.

02:43Yes, and obviously we've got this league fixture and then we've got the FA Cup fixture.

02:46I think after that the fixture schedule is looking pretty rammed.

02:50I think we figured out the other day we've got something crazy.

02:53In that Christmas week we're playing three times a week.

02:55I think we're on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, aren't we?

02:58So we are going to need absolutely everyone, aren't we?

03:00Yes, exactly. You don't want to think too far ahead.

03:03This is probably the first Saturday before it gets into the real nitty-gritty of the Christmas period

03:10which seems to be punished for being on Sky.

03:13To play on the 23rd at night and then play one o'clock on the 26th.

03:18It's frustrating because obviously it doesn't feel like we get the same amount of rest that it really is.

03:26We can't really do anything with it. We'll just have to prepare the best we can.

03:29I think the one thing the lads have shown is their mentality and their desire and the togetherness

03:34which I've been really, really pleased with is the fact that they keep rolling out,

03:37they keep getting the performances and they're working hard for each other.

03:40I think we're going to need that even more, especially over the Christmas period.

03:44Thanks.

03:45Rob, looking at the table, you're just six points off 13th I think.

03:49It just shows how tough and competitive this league is, doesn't it?

03:53Yes, definitely. Obviously that's a nice positive spell on it.

03:56I think probably don't look at the league table too much at the moment.

03:59We're still early doors. It's still only the third of the season.

04:03We've only been in for six or seven games or whatever it might have been.

04:06But no, there's loads of positives there.

04:07I think the big thing for me is there's started to be a bit of belief within the lads

04:11that they can affect this league and they can affect the level.

04:13I think they've done it in patches and I think they've done it in games and spells.

04:17But I think we're starting to believe not only can we do it consistently in games for the majority

04:20but also to pick up the points as needed against the bigger clubs and the teams that are more established here.

04:25So, yes, lots of positives but, like you say, never get too high, never get too low.

04:29Just make sure we concentrate the next game and keep improving on the little things that we can control.

04:33Yeah, and Rotherham, they got Steve Evans in charge, somebody who had a lot of success here.

04:37Have your paths crossed before with Steve Evans?

04:39Do you know what? I think we played against his Stevenage team in the Cup at Gateshead.

04:44They were very good as the year they got promoted, actually.

04:47I can't think if I've played against these teams before.

04:51But, obviously, yeah, I have a huge respect for the manager.

04:54The amount of promotions he's got, he's always been successful where he's gone.

04:57And, obviously, Rotherham as well.

05:00Like I said before, I think where their league position is at the moment, I'm not sure where they are at the moment.

05:0617th, I think.

05:0717th, yeah, but it doesn't reflect where they are in the league.

05:11Their stats say they should be a lot higher and I think it's more a case of as and when.

05:15As it is, they will finish a lot higher than 17th.

05:18So, now it's going to be a really tough game.

05:20Obviously, the way he plays, the way he sets his team up is always really difficult to beat.

05:24They're also really difficult to defend against because, you know, they're aggressive.

05:29They're forward-thinking.

05:30The ball gets in the box a lot and they play with a lot of energy.

05:33So, I'm looking forward to that.

05:35It'll be a really good game and, obviously, I'm sure it'll be nice for Steve to come back.

05:38Yeah.

05:39One thing, Steve, and his assistant, Paul Rayner, they've got their sideline antics sometimes.

05:44They're in the referees' and the fourth officials' ear all the time and everything.

05:48Is that something that you can ignore during a game or is it something you have to be aware of, what they're trying to do with their antics?

05:54To me, I'm trying to get better at annoying the fourth officials.

05:57So, probably more of the fourth officials probably going to have a tough day.

06:00But, no, look, I think everyone's personality is different and Steve's obviously very passionate.

06:05You can see that by the way he is.

06:07I think his team's reflect that in terms of their energy and everything.

06:10So, no, I think it's just more concentrating on the lads and making sure that we maintain our standards that we've set

06:16and that we're able to continue and keep progressing from where we left off Saturday.

06:21Because I thought overall, I thought it was excellent.

06:23I thought second half especially was exceptional at times.

06:26And we just want to keep improving so that we can obviously get the goals

06:30and make sure we keep being studded at the back, keeping them clean sheets as well.

06:34Yeah.

06:35When they lost to Barnsley last week, the fans seemed to turn on their players as they went down the tunnel.

06:41And Steve opened up some comments afterwards.

06:43How grateful are you how supportive the Crawley fans have been?

06:46Certainly, especially away from home, they've been incredible at the match.

06:49They've been amazing.

06:50And even at home, I think they've been brilliant.

06:52I think they can see the hard work and the endeavour from the lads.

06:54And I think they can see that the performances are coming.

06:57And even after the game Saturday, the response from the fans, obviously,

07:00the noise they were making and the players going over there as well.

07:03It's great to see that the clubs feel so united.

07:05And it should be.

07:06It's tough because you get promoted.

07:08Sometimes you forget you've been promoted because of success and you're going into a really tough league.

07:12And it's hard when you're watching the game and the passion's flowing

07:14and you obviously want to win every game because everyone sets out to.

07:17I've been really impressed and feel quite humbled by the response I've had.

07:22I bumped into a Crawley fan in the station on the way down yesterday.

07:26I was chatting to him for 10, 15 minutes.

07:28It was lovely because everyone's really welcoming and it's a real community, family club.

07:32And it's something that I'm looking forward to getting to know people more

07:37and just enjoying the welcome.

07:39Hopefully, we get more and more times where it's enjoyable

07:41and we can spend a bit more time together and more home games.

07:45It seems like we've been away a lot this year so far.

07:47Yeah, and just a squad update.

07:49Jay Williams, Harry Forster missed out last week.

07:52Are there any updates on those two?

07:53Yeah, Jay's got an issue with his patellar tendon which he's had for a long time.

07:57He's got tendinitis.

07:59It's one of them ones that hopefully with rest he'll get better.

08:01He said he feels better now he's rested it.

08:03So, we'll just have to build him up slowly to make sure that when he does come back

08:06we're not putting him at risk or anything.

08:08Harry had a dead leg which seems to be quite a severe one.

08:11There's a lot of bruising come out.

08:12So, we couldn't risk him for the game.

08:13So, he's going for a scan.

08:14We'll find out.

08:15Hopefully, it's just a dead leg so it won't be too bad for him.

08:18Gav had a tight quarry last week.

08:21So, he'll be back in and obviously Brad's suspended.

08:23So, yeah, sort of a bit as it was but a bit as it has been so far.

08:29We're a little bit...

08:34Yeah, as it was but yeah, we'll have to just monitor it a couple

08:37because like with the games coming thick and fast

08:39we just need to make sure.

08:40My big belief is that I don't want to risk one player for one game to lose them for ten.

08:44Especially someone like Harry Forster who's been brilliant for us this year and stuff.

08:47So, we'll just assess the lads as we go and do right by the person,

08:50the human being in terms of what they need for their body

08:53whilst managing how much we want them to play

08:55and how much they obviously want to play as well.

08:57Yeah, and Jojo's returned fine from international duty, isn't he?

09:00Yeah, yeah.

09:01Unfortunately, I thought he might have...

09:02He didn't play obviously.

09:03We thought he might have played in a couple of the games

09:05so a bit gutted for him obviously when they're not qualifying.

09:07But no, he's back.

09:08He's all okay.

09:09He's obviously recovered because he took a really nasty whack to the head in the concussion.

09:13But no, so looking forward to having him back.

09:15He's been excellent before he obviously got injured and before he's played.

09:19So no, obviously to have someone like Jojo's come back into the squad is a massive bonus for us.

09:25So, just looking forward to getting the squad together for the next couple of days on the pitch

09:29and if the snow stops we'll take it from there.

09:32Brilliant, thanks Rob.

09:33Cheers.

09:34Cheers.

09:35Is that alright?

09:36Yeah, we're good.

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