- 1 day ago
Welcome to a special episode of the Gullmouth Action podcast, where we take a look at all the latest goings on at Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town.
Matt Pole, is joined by Brighton writer Derren Howard, Sam Morton, who covers both Albion and Crawley Town, and Reds expert Mark Dunford.
Why is this episode special? It is our 100th episode of Gull-Mouth Action. We have seen a lot of ups and downs for both the Seagulls and the Reds since the first episode on October 13, 2023.
We look at our highlights and significant moments during that two-year period and also look at the latest goings on at Brighton and Crawley, including Albion’s upcoming trip to Newcastle and the Reds’ home clash with League Two leaders Walsall.
Matt Pole, is joined by Brighton writer Derren Howard, Sam Morton, who covers both Albion and Crawley Town, and Reds expert Mark Dunford.
Why is this episode special? It is our 100th episode of Gull-Mouth Action. We have seen a lot of ups and downs for both the Seagulls and the Reds since the first episode on October 13, 2023.
We look at our highlights and significant moments during that two-year period and also look at the latest goings on at Brighton and Crawley, including Albion’s upcoming trip to Newcastle and the Reds’ home clash with League Two leaders Walsall.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to a special episode of the Goal Mouth Action podcast where we take a look at all the latest goings on at Brighton, Hove, Abbey and Crawley Town.
00:08I'm Matt Poe and this week I'm joined by Brighton writer Derren Howard, Sam Morton who covers both Abbey and Crawley Town and Red expert Mark Dunford.
00:16Why is this a special episode I hear you cry? Well it's our 100th episode of Goal Mouth Action.
00:21We have seen a lot of ups and downs for both the Seagulls and the Reds since the first episode all the way back on the 13th of October 2023.
00:27On this episode we will look at our highlights and significant moments during that two-year period and also look at the latest goings on at Brighton and Crawley
00:34including Albion's upcoming clash with Newcastle and the Reds' home clash with League Two leaders Walsall last weekend.
00:41You can read all the stories we are talking about with videos and pictures online at sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport.
00:47So Derren it's been quite an eventful couple of years at the Amex since we've started out the podcast and what stood out for you?
00:53All positives on the whole I think. The whole Roberto Di Zerbi situation and bringing in the youngest ever manager, that's pretty intriguing as things go.
01:03Yes, yeah it has been. As you say it's been fairly steady and smooth sailing for Brighton for the most part.
01:11They've maintained that sort of mid-table consistency which Graham Potter developed and then as you mentioned Roberto Di Zerbi came in.
01:20A complete change of style from Potter and then obviously then another huge change when Fabian Herzella took over, the youngest ever Premier League manager.
01:31And it's something that the club and I think the players deserve a lot of credit for how they've negotiated these changes with the managers.
01:40Completely different styles, completely different characters as well.
01:43When you look at the character of Roberto Di Zerbi compared to Herzella, it's chalk and cheese. Herzella is much more measured whereas Di Zerbi could be extremely fiery
01:55and very passionate on the sidelines and the way he conducted training and the way that just the whole method has changed.
02:04But in amongst that, I remember Paul Barber always saying, you know, that the standards stay the same.
02:12You know, it's like being at school where the teachers change, the pupils change, but the actual what the club stands for stays the same.
02:20And I think because they've got that solid structure in place and they've got their sort of strong, solid professionals as well.
02:27By the likes of Lewis Dunk, Adam Lallana, who's there previously, Danny Welbeck and Adam Webster as well.
02:34Those type of players, Joel Veltman as well, you know, they help to maintain the standard when there's quite a high turnover of players coming through and managers as well.
02:43So there's so much work that goes away from the spotlight that keeps the club on an even keel.
02:52So even though they've had high turnovers of players and managers, it's still been fairly, fairly smooth sailing.
03:00Obviously, the highlights, the European runs, which I think Sam's going to talk about a bit more, you know, qualifying for Europa League, top in the group.
03:11You know, fantastic occasions for the fans.
03:13You know, these are the best since we've been doing a podcast and, you know, probably a couple of years prior to that as well.
03:20It's been as good as it's going to get, you know, ever been for Brighton fans to be competing with, you know, the best teams in the country.
03:28The biggest teams, when you look at the budgets that, you know, these clubs have got Man United, Manchester City, Arsenal.
03:35And Brighton have really been punching their weight against them.
03:40And they now go into these matches, you know, really sort of going toe to toe with the best teams in the world.
03:46And I think since we've been doing the podcast, it's 100th episode.
03:49And I think that's what I can take from this is that Brighton have maintained that level, even though they've sold some of their best players over the years.
03:58They keep reinvesting so far. They've done it smartly and reinvested, which has enabled them to compete.
04:05So, yeah, a really positive two years for Brighton, I would say.
04:11And Sam, Darren's mentioned it there. I'm guessing the away days to Rome and Amsterdam in the Europa League.
04:16That must be pretty high up there.
04:20Yeah, no, absolutely. I think it's incredible, really, also from a journalist's point of view, the opportunities that that provided, really.
04:27It was, yeah, quite an incredible turn of events, really.
04:30Brighton obviously getting such a good draw, obviously, with Ajax in the group stage, which is one that I was really hoping they'd get and obviously pulled out in the group stage.
04:40And I don't think in any Brighton's fans' wildest dreams could they imagine doing a double over Ajax, obviously winning at home and away as well.
04:48And that trip to Amsterdam is definitely one of the high points for Brighton.
04:52And to go there and get that 2-0 win was incredible.
04:56Obviously, Antifati and Simon and Ingra getting the goals on the day.
04:59And I just remember being at the Johan Cruyff Arena and just the atmosphere just taking my breath away.
05:04And the noise levels, especially from the home fans, it's just something I'd not experienced before then.
05:10And it was, yeah, just incredible to be there and experience that moment.
05:14And Brighton obviously getting the win was just a bonus, really.
05:19And it was just great to be there, obviously, in the city, seeing all the Brighton fans donning the seagull costumes and Brighton outfits and kind of taking over the city, really.
05:27And it obviously is one of the most beautiful cities in the world as well.
05:30So it was, yeah, just a fantastic occasion, really, for Brighton.
05:35And then on the opposite side, the trip to Rome wasn't as successful.
05:39Obviously, once again, incredible to be there and be inside the stadium in Rome was just, again, an unbelievable experience and just an atmosphere you just don't experience in a kind of anywhere else.
05:51But obviously, it didn't go to plan on the pitch, losing 4-0 to be Brighton's first knockout fixture in European competition, which obviously is not how they would have wanted it to go.
06:02But it was definitely a learning curve.
06:06Obviously, if they do get the opportunity again, I'm sure they'll learn from it.
06:09But there was all sorts of things going off the pitch, as Mark can attest to as well.
06:13Obviously, we both tripped together and we didn't expect to be covering kind of new stories about stabbings as well as the football.
06:20But that's crazy, wasn't it?
06:22It was crazy, yeah.
06:24Obviously, I had some gruelling journeys as well, didn't we, on the bus?
06:27And I think we pretty much had every mode of transport possible in that trip.
06:31We had a luxury hotel room over in the way, Sam.
06:34We did.
06:34We had a luxury hotel.
06:40Certainly very eventful.
06:42But, yeah, it's an experience that I certainly won't forget.
06:44And I'm sure that those Brighton fans won't as well.
06:47And, yeah, just an absolutely incredible time to be a Brighton fan over the last few years, really.
06:52Yeah, I was going to say, Mark, you're not a Brighton man, but you tagged along for that trip to Rome.
06:57Eventful, both on and off the pitch, I think it's safe to say.
07:00It was.
07:00We were there, I think it was three days in total were we there for, I think.
07:04And, yeah, and we were, I don't know, because you do tend to, when you're going on a trip like that,
07:10obviously all your colleagues think you're just going off on a jolly kind of thing.
07:15We, you sort of, I tried to overcompensate, I don't know if I overcompensate,
07:20but I think me and Sam were as busy as we've probably ever been over those three days.
07:24Like you say, covering that unfortunate stabbing.
07:26Luckily, the person survived.
07:29But it was crazy.
07:31Just getting into the, like, the Roma Stadium was a nightmare as well.
07:34We had to, we had, we were going straight to the airport after the game and had to unpack.
07:40We packed our bags so tightly because we could only have a rucksack.
07:44And we had all our work gear, three days worth of clothes and wash gear.
07:47Had to unpack it all for the security and everything.
07:50And it was just, yeah, there was just lots of it.
07:53But the actual game, the atmosphere was incredible.
07:56Just the sort of song that they, I can't remember what the name of the song is that the Roma fans sing.
08:00But it was just, yeah, proper spine chilling, kind of, spine chilling, hair on the back of your neck, kind of, yeah, atmosphere.
08:10It was incredible.
08:11But, yeah, they were taught a footballing lesson that night.
08:13Because we were sat so high up, you could see the whole pitch.
08:16Not like when I'm at Crawley, where you have to move your head to follow the ball and all that.
08:20You could sort of just, you just had to move your eyes.
08:22But just seeing how organised Roma were was amazing.
08:26And, yeah, no, it was a great, great, great experience.
08:30Yeah, I imagine it was.
08:32Darren, starting with you, what do you see as the most significant moments on and off the field for Brighton in the last two years?
08:40Yeah, it's, as sort of I mentioned, it's just that stability, I think, that Brighton have managed to create in the structure that they've built.
08:51And I think that's what's been most impressive, how they can continue to compete, sell all their top players and continue to compete at the very highest level.
09:03You know, they haven't really dipped in form.
09:06I think when De Zerbi, the highest finish was under De Zerbi.
09:10And that season they had a midfield of McAllister, Caicedo and Pascal Gross, which is, you know, which is as good as you're going to get.
09:18So, yes, if Fabian Herzella had, because there's often a lot of looks backs to think, oh, it would have been better under De Zerbi, you know, Herzella, what's his identity?
09:28Is he doing the right job?
09:29But if you give any Premier League manager that midfield, then, you know, that's worth how many, goodness knows how many points a season.
09:38And that's a particular part of the pitch, I think, which Herzella has had to really wrestle with to get right.
09:44They've had Belieber, who's been up and down.
09:47Yassin Ayari, who was, you know, on loan at Blackburn, then on loan at Coventry.
09:51And he's developed so well under Herzella.
09:54He's a real success story under Herzella.
09:59So I think it's, for me, it's that consistency that they've maintained, as well as selling all their best players, you know, the fees that they've received for the likes of Caicedo, Cucurea, and then Jao Pedro as well.
10:13He left in the summer.
10:15And for the most part, they've managed to time these departures quite well.
10:20I think this time around, it's caught them out a little bit with Jao Pedro going to Chelsea.
10:25They haven't really been able to replace them.
10:27There's been too much reliance on Danny Welbeck, and the young Greek lads are still finding their feet.
10:33So that might prove that that's going to take, you know, a bit longer to come in.
10:38But on the whole, Brighton have done it really well.
10:40Caicedo left, Belieber came in.
10:43Trossard left, Mitoma came in as well.
10:47So they've been able to do it so well so far.
10:51And hopefully that can continue.
10:54Sam, yeah, same question to you.
10:56What do you see as the most significant moment on and off the field for Brighton in the last two years?
10:59And I know this might be asking probably a little bit too much, but where do you think Brighton will be as a club in the next two years?
11:05I know it's quite hard to predict, but where do you reckon Brighton will be?
11:10Do you reckon they'll still be challenging for Europa League?
11:13Are they due a dip?
11:14What do you reckon?
11:16Yeah, that's a really tough one.
11:17I think I'll start with that.
11:19I think there's bound to be a bit of a dip, isn't there?
11:21Because they've had such highs in the last few years.
11:24And Darren's touched on it a bit there.
11:26The amount of talent that have come through the doors at Brighton.
11:30And when you really stop to think, it's quite remarkable, really, the fact that they've had, obviously, Alexis McAllister and Moises Kaisada in the same team.
11:37And they've gone on to, obviously, you'd say, big and better things.
11:41And they're doing really well, obviously, for Liverpool and Chelsea, respectively.
11:45But, yeah, it's quite hard to believe the level of talent that Brighton have had at the club for the last couple of years.
11:51And, obviously, they've sold them on for big fees, obviously, especially Kaisada.
11:55And they've done, obviously, a decent job at replacing them.
11:58I think Kaisada is definitely one that they've found probably hardest to replace.
12:01And we've seen, obviously, them do well, obviously, in this department, obviously, throughout the last few years.
12:09But it's now starting to become, obviously, a bit of an issue this season, obviously, in that midfield area.
12:15So, it's definitely kind of an area you wonder how Brighton will kind of deal with the next few years.
12:21And, obviously, in the attacking department, as well, you kind of need someone to come in and to start scoring goals on a regular basis.
12:29It'll be interesting to see how the Greek lads do, obviously, because, as well, Beck is obviously easing his way out.
12:34We know he can still do it.
12:35We saw him recently at Stafford Bridge.
12:37He's still got that quality.
12:38But you just wonder how long that's going to last.
12:41So, it'll be interesting to see kind of how Brighton do cope with that in the next few years.
12:45I think there's bound to be a dip, really, isn't there, I think.
12:48So, it's a real tough one to call.
12:51But I think just in terms of the most significant moments, you've got to point to the moment they actually qualified for Europe.
12:57Obviously, speaking of strikers, Evan Ferguson scoring twice as Brighton beat Southampton 3-1 to seal a place in the Europa Conference League.
13:05That was a historic moment, really.
13:07And I remember being in the Amherst in that day and just a real kind of party atmosphere that there was.
13:12And obviously, they needed just a point to confirm the place in the Europa League.
13:16And it was Julio Nciso scoring that goal, which was obviously a finalist for the Puskas Award against Man City to earn a 1-0 draw.
13:23And, yeah, just in terms of significance, just absolutely huge.
13:26And getting to play in Europe for the first time was just an incredible moment for the club.
13:32And I don't think anyone really saw it coming.
13:35And then off the pitch, the day that Roberto de Servi announced he was leaving, I think that was definitely a big moment.
13:42I remember seeing the news and feeling kind of really shocked.
13:45And you do immediately feel a bit concerned about how Brighton are going to cope.
13:48But I remember feeling the same thing when Graham Potter left.
13:51But Brighton obviously do have a really good habit of knowing the right person to come in to replace people in all departments,
13:58whether it's on the pitch and the players or if it's the manager, they know the right person to get in.
14:03And obviously, we've had Fabian Hurtzler come in and replace de Servi with huge feats to fill, really,
14:07with the achievements that de Servi had and the style of play that he brought in.
14:11And at the end of the day, Brighton have been talked about all over Europe.
14:14And they were really looked at as the modern-day club that was exceeding expectations.
14:20Players were wanting to come there to improve their game and to find out kind of how to mould their game for the Premier League.
14:27And all of that kind of thing.
14:28So, it's always going to be really difficult.
14:30But I think Brighton dealt with it well.
14:32Obviously, he's got a young manager in Fabian Hurtzler.
14:35And obviously, there's going to be ups and downs.
14:37And there definitely has been.
14:38But I think we've had enough ups, enough positives to know that he's definitely the right man for the time being.
14:45And obviously, he's still got a lot to prove.
14:46And things can change drastically.
14:48We know if he gets a few defeats in a row, things can change.
14:52And he's definitely got some issues to resolve in the squad and to get some new players firing.
14:56But, yeah, I think there's a lot to work out as the next months go on.
15:02I think it'll be interesting to see where Brighton finish this season, for sure.
15:06That will probably determine where they will go from there.
15:08Yeah, absolutely.
15:10And now we'll take a look at Crawley Town.
15:12I think we probably could have done a separate half-an-hour podcast about the past two years at Crawley.
15:16But we're going to try and sum it out best we can.
15:20They've been up and down, literally.
15:22They've been to Wembley and seen managers and owners come and go.
15:25Yeah, a lot to unpack in these past two and a bit years, Mark.
15:28What's your highlight?
15:30Wembley trip has got to be up there for sure, hasn't it?
15:33Yeah, well, it was, yeah, obviously.
15:35Because what an incredible day that was.
15:37Historic for the club.
15:38First time they went to Wembley.
15:39Obviously, first time winning at Wembley.
15:41First time they've been involved in the playoffs.
15:43It was just everything sort of came together on that day.
15:48And at the beginning of each home game now, they've got the little montage on the big screen of really great moments.
15:55And I still, like why was it Roma?
15:58I still got the hairs on the back of my next stand-up when it's Danilo Orsi, then Liam Kelly scoring, and Scott Lindsay at the end of the game.
16:04And I, me and myself and Gary from the BBC, who was commentating there as well on that day, just sort of say, we were there that day.
16:12It might never happen again for Crawley Town.
16:14We were the journalists covering this game kind of thing.
16:17Great moment.
16:18But for me, it was the game directly before that.
16:21The second leg of the playoffs semifinal when they beat MK Don's 5-1.
16:27It was saying things all came together at the final.
16:31Everything came together.
16:32But during that season, there were, I mean, because I think we said we started this podcast in October 2023, didn't we?
16:39Yeah.
16:39In that season, in October, Crawley played five games and only got one point from those five games.
16:45So they had quite a poor start, really, to that in that first half of the season, which hopefully they can, they're replicating this season for the first half and then brilliant second half.
16:56But, yeah, but that night, everything just came together and they just, it's difficult to underplay it.
17:07It was like watching Pete Barcelona.
17:09I think there was one particular, I think, I don't know if it was Orsi's second or hat-trick goal, where it was, I've forgotten his name, Lolos.
17:21Lolos played it to, I think he played a 1-2 with Liam Kelly and then Liam Kelly played it across.
17:27But they just cut through them like butter.
17:30It was just ridiculous.
17:32And Jay Williams scored the other goal, Orsi hat-trick.
17:34Jack Roll scored as well.
17:36I just remember at the end going on the pitch, filming the celebrations and that, because talking about the Roma and Ajax atmospheres, the Stadion MK, no atmosphere whatsoever.
17:46And they tried to, they stuck all the Crawley fans in two sections right at the top of the half of each other, just to try and, I don't know if it was a mind games thing or what, but it didn't work because all you could hear, all game was the Crawley fans.
18:00And it was an amazing night.
18:02And I always remember I got on the pitch, Scott Lindsay saw me, grabbed me, hugged me and just said, I can't repeat exactly what he said, but it was along the lines of how good were we tonight?
18:13But there was a few expletives in there as well.
18:16And I was like, yeah, yeah, you were pretty darn special.
18:19And then the final, it just seemed like a foregone conclusion.
18:22It was never in any doubt they were going to win that final.
18:25We're going to lose that final, sorry.
18:27So it was, yeah, I think that NK Don's night was the highlight for me, although the Wembley occasion was just incredible and historic and will never be forgotten.
18:41Yeah, absolutely.
18:42Absolutely. As we've kind of alluded to, there've been plenty of things, topics to cover over the past two years.
18:47What do you think has been the most significant, Mark?
18:50Plenty of sliding door moments in there, I think.
18:53Yeah, it is really.
18:54I mean, if you go back before the podcast, I wonder what would have happened.
18:58And I don't want to go too much into this because of obvious, for obvious reasons.
19:02If we didn't have the John Yem scandal, how long would he have lasted if that would have gone with the Wagme?
19:09But that was before the podcast, so we won't talk about that.
19:12But I think that's quite a big moment, what happened there.
19:17But I think it was the summer after they got promoted, where if they hadn't sold, I'd love to have seen that squad play in League One.
19:27All those players.
19:28It was inevitable.
19:28Sorry, that's my phone going off.
19:32Not John Yem's, was it?
19:33It wasn't John.
19:34Yeah, you say his name, he calls.
19:39Yes.
19:40Sorry, where was I?
19:41Yes.
19:42Yeah.
19:43Inevitably, they were going to sell.
19:44You would have thought they'd sold one or two because look at Orsi.
19:48Crawley are a selling club.
19:49You're going to have a great season.
19:51It's going to put them in the window and they're going to come in.
19:53But to sell, I think it was in the end, eight of the starting 11 of that Wembley final was just ridiculous.
20:01And that was the catalyst really for Lindsay leaving because he had a decent start to the League One season.
20:08They won the first two games.
20:10But you could tell something wasn't quite right.
20:13And then obviously Lindsay left at the first opportunity.
20:16But then Gadeongs came in for him.
20:17And so if they hadn't sold those players, Lindsay probably wouldn't have left.
20:22Therefore, if Lindsay hadn't left, would they have survived in League One and had a decent season?
20:29I don't think it would have been a playoff season.
20:32But I don't think they would have got relegated if Scott Lindsay and those players were there all season.
20:37Or even with all the players gone, if Lindsay had stayed there all season, when he came back, you saw what he did.
20:42He nearly saved them.
20:43I mean, they were, what were they, 12 points adrift when they were nine games left and he got them within one point of survival.
20:49So I think that is sort of the most significant moment.
20:52But Scott Lindsay coming back is hugely significant.
20:55And although they've had this awful, terrible start for this season, one point off relegation, off the bottom base at the moment,
21:02I think they will, it will, to some extent, mirror that full season under Lindsay.
21:10Bad first half, brilliant second half.
21:13I don't know if they'll quite reach the heights of playoffs because I think they're too far behind.
21:17But I think they will do OK in the end.
21:21I'm going to ask you the same question I asked Sam about Brighton, Mark.
21:24I think this is an even harder question to answer.
21:27Where do you see Crawley in two years' time?
21:29In two years' time, yeah.
21:33They couldn't be anywhere, couldn't they, really?
21:36They literally could be anywhere.
21:37I mean, what happens if they go from now till Christmas without another win?
21:43I can't see that happening.
21:44I'm not saying that's going to happen.
21:46But do they stick with Scott Lindsay?
21:49I mean, I personally would.
21:51I think he can turn it around there.
21:54And these players are gelling and gelling and it's going to take time.
21:57But if they don't and the owners feel like they have to make a decision, we saw the decision that was made last year, admittedly, under different owners.
22:07Rob Elliott probably wasn't the right person for the job.
22:10So it's difficult.
22:12Yeah, it's a difficult one.
22:14I think they will be like they were for many years, a middling League Two side in two years' time.
22:23I think they will still be there, but they'll be a bit more stable.
22:27You won't see as much player turnover.
22:30And I think they'll be a team that's around mid-table, maybe pushing for playoffs again.
22:35Scott Lindsay will tell you they'll be back in League One in two years' time, even where they are now.
22:40But, yeah, it's a really difficult question to answer because there's so many things that could happen.
22:47I mean, worst case, they drop out of the league.
22:51What happens then?
22:52They're not like an old one or they haven't got that history.
22:56They're not a big club as such.
22:59It's not going to be very, very easy at all for them to get back into the Football League.
23:03But I can't see that happening, especially with Scott Lindsay at the house.
23:07Yeah, touch wood that doesn't happen.
23:09And now back to current matters, starting with Brian, who returned to Premier League action at home to Newcastle on Saturday.
23:15Sam, the Cubs have made an almost identical record going into this one.
23:19What have you made of the Magpies so far and the impact of German striker Nick Voltamada?
23:24Yeah, it's been a bit of a strange season for Newcastle so far.
23:28It didn't obviously get off to the best of starts with three games without a win.
23:32They had a goalless draw at Aston Villa, followed by a very unlucky defeat at home to Liverpool, conceding in the 10th minute of injury time.
23:41That was a wild game, that one.
23:43And then they drew 0-0 again, away at Leeds.
23:46So, yeah, as I say, not a great start.
23:48But then, as you mentioned, new signing, Voltamada getting the winning goal against Wolves in a 1-0 win.
23:54Then they lost at home in the Champions League to Barcelona.
23:57So, obviously, no shame in that.
23:59But another goal this draw, third of the season, away at Bournemouth.
24:01Again, not the worst results because Bournemouth have been great this season.
24:06But then they had a comfortable win in the League Cup, 4-1 against Bradford.
24:10Another very unlucky defeat at home to Arsenal.
24:14Voltamada scoring again, but conceding a 96-minute winner to Arsenal.
24:19And then it's been better since then.
24:21A 4-0 win in the Champions League and a 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest.
24:26And that new man, Voltamada, scored a goal in each of the last three games.
24:31So, he's definitely finding his form, finding his goal-scoring form for them.
24:36And he also scored for Germany against Northern Ireland on Monday night as well.
24:40So, definite person to watch out for in that Newcastle team for Brighton,
24:46who have had a good record against Newcastle in recent years.
24:50Obviously, they were unbeaten against them last season, including their FA Cup success,
24:54which is another game that can go down in recent good memories at the club.
25:00Obviously, Danny Welbeck scoring that, got a winner in extra time.
25:04It was definitely a great moment for Brighton in recent years.
25:07And we know Yankouba Minto loves a goal against his former team
25:09and has had a couple of very unusual celebrations against them.
25:13It's going to be interesting to see if he does that again and comes out with something else a bit unusual.
25:19But, yeah, I back Brighton to put in a good performance.
25:23They'll obviously be really up for it.
25:26Obviously, as you mentioned, a really similar start to the season.
25:29Newcastle are actually only above them on goal difference, but just the one goal in 11th and 12th, respectively.
25:36So, I think it's a big game for Brighton to get the confidence going again.
25:40After that, two points drops, you'd say, at Wolves.
25:43And they'll be looking to bounce back quickly.
25:45And obviously, in front of their fans, they'll be looking to get a really big win.
25:51And it's going to be difficult.
25:52As I say, Voltemar is going to be once.
25:55He's going to try and keep quiet.
25:56I'm intrigued to see that battle, probably, between him and Van Heek,
25:59how much he's going to keep him quiet.
26:01And you'd imagine Lewis Dunn will probably start again alongside him.
26:03So, definitely going to have a busy afternoon, I think, the two centre-backs.
26:08Yeah, Sam's mentioned it there, Darren.
26:10Yankouba Minto, he's been really good for Brighton so far, hasn't he, this season?
26:14He'll no doubt want to impress once again against his old club.
26:16And do you think he'll celebrate if he scores?
26:20I'd love to see him.
26:21Yeah, I'd really like to see him celebrate.
26:24And you really wouldn't put it past him as well to the form he's been in
26:28to hit the target against Newcastle or cause him plenty of problems, at least.
26:34He never actually played for Newcastle.
26:36He came through their system slightly.
26:39Then he was on loan to PSV.
26:42Never made a first-team appearance for Newcastle.
26:45So, in that regard, you'd sort of think, well, why wouldn't you celebrate?
26:49Because you haven't actually – I know he's obviously probably feel some loyalty
26:53towards him bringing him to English football and giving him the platform
26:55to get the loan to PSV.
26:57But he never actually played for the first team.
27:00So, for me, I'd love to see him celebrate in front of the Brighton fans
27:04if he does score.
27:07Gets the badge and everything, yeah.
27:09Yeah, give it the full treatment.
27:12But, yeah, it'd be interesting.
27:14It wasn't – Sam mentioned it.
27:16It was a strange one.
27:16I was at the game last season when it was – it was a strange game in all-round,
27:21actually.
27:21It was full of VAR checks, and it was one of those annoying sort of games
27:25where it just kept on getting interrupted.
27:28But, yeah, Minte was good that day, and he's been easily Brighton's best
27:33attacking player this season so far.
27:38So, yeah, I think he's going to be a real threat, and hopefully he comes back
27:42from international duty unscathed and ready to go.
27:47Yeah, that moves us on very nicely to my next question, Darren.
27:50What's the latest team using injury news from the Admin camp?
27:53Have they got a clean bill of health after the international break,
27:56or has anyone picked up any knocks while over their country?
27:59Some are still going.
28:00So, Brian Gruder, he picked up a knee injury while he was with a German
28:04under-21 camp.
28:05He came home early.
28:06So, he's going to be assessed to see if he's fit to play against Newcastle.
28:13Signs are not looking that good, actually.
28:14It's something – he picked up a knee problem against Wolves,
28:18and the German federation were quick to assess him,
28:22and they sent him back quite swiftly.
28:25So, we'll see what happens there.
28:27But Matoma, he missed the Wolves game.
28:30He didn't travel with Japan as well.
28:33So, hopefully, that period has given his ankle enough time to rest and recover,
28:39and hopefully he'll be fit to face Newcastle.
28:43We're talking about Yankouba Minté.
28:45He's on the bench, actually, at the moment.
28:47They're playing – Gambia are playing Seychelles, as we speak.
28:51They're 2-0 up at the moment at the time of filming in the Seychelles.
28:55But Yankouba Minté is on the bench.
28:59He's not playing.
28:59He did, though, play 90 minutes when they lost 4-3 to Gabon last Friday.
29:05Aubameyang scored all four goals for Gabon against Gambia.
29:10Belieber, as well, the long-haul international sort of players.
29:14Belieber, he played 82 minutes for Cameroon in their 0-0 draw against Angola yesterday.
29:19And then last Friday, he played 75 minutes against Mauritius.
29:22So, hopefully, a few more minutes in the tank for him will do him the world of good.
29:27Whether he starts against Newcastle is something Hazella is going to have to assess closely.
29:33He's been a bit of a – I mentioned the word liability last week.
29:37Maybe that's a bit too strong.
29:38But he's way off his best at the moment, particularly in the Premier League.
29:43So, Hazella's got a big decision to make there this Saturday.
29:49And Diego Gomez, he's also on long-haul international duty.
29:52Played 50 minutes against South Korea in the 2-0 loss today.
29:57And then last Friday, he played and scored.
29:59Played 69 minutes and scored in the 2-2 draw against Japan.
30:03So, hopefully, those players will come back okay.
30:07Gomez is probably going to be quite key for Brighton.
30:10He's been in good form of late.
30:13And then Joel Veltman, he's struggling with a calf injury.
30:17He'll be assessed.
30:19Hinshaw was probably a couple of weeks away with his ankle problem still.
30:23Solly March has a knee injury, obviously, long-term absentee.
30:27And Adam Webster's still out as well with his knee injury as well.
30:31Excellent stuff.
30:32Well, best of luck to Brighton at the weekend.
30:33Moving on to Crawley Town.
30:35Scott Lindsay's men drew Runnell with League Two leaders Walsall on Saturday.
30:40The Reds dominated the game but could only get a point with Ryan Loft scoring
30:43and Harry McCurdy missing a penalty, which I'm sure Mark will be telling us all about
30:47a little bit later on.
30:48The Saddlers equalised through a stunning Connor Barrett strike to share the spoils.
30:53You were at the Broadfield Stadium, Mark.
30:55What did you think of the performance and who stood out for you?
30:58I'm quite looking forward to your description of McCurdy's penalty, I must say.
31:01It was very, very poor.
31:05It was weak.
31:08It was, yeah, it was just one of those ones where it's side for it and keeper didn't really
31:12have to do much to save it.
31:14It was so disappointing because it came really early on as well.
31:17Max Anderson, who was one of the players who stood out, he was superb.
31:21Max Anderson ran the midfield.
31:22He got tripped and it was, I think it was within the first 10 minutes and you just thought,
31:29hello, this is going to be Crawley's day kind of thing.
31:31And then everybody in the crowd just went, oh, when the keeper saved it kind of thing.
31:37But their heads did not drop at all.
31:40And that's what Scott Lindsay said about his side this season.
31:44When they let in a goal or something goes against them, they've let their heads drop and
31:48they haven't been able to fight back.
31:50But this was, I mean, it was Harry McCurdy who set up Ryan Loft's goal.
31:54Brilliant turn in midfield.
31:56Took it down.
31:57Cut back on his right foot.
31:58Chipped over the back post and Loft was there to head it home.
32:01Really good goal.
32:01And they just absolutely dominated.
32:05But again, they just chance after chance just went begging.
32:09I think Loft and Anderson and everyone, they had shots blocked on the line to keep it pulled
32:16off a couple of really good saves.
32:17And they just, I mean, if you look at the stats, again, I do this every week, but 73%
32:22for 73% possession, 15 shots on goal, seven on target.
32:26There were four big chances for Crawley.
32:28They had 579 passes compared to Walsall's 198.
32:33Remember, Walsall were top of the league at this point and they still are.
32:38And Crawley's pass completion was 87% and Walsall's was only 57%.
32:43And the XG, still don't understand it, was 2.64 for Crawley and only more 0.55 for Walsall.
32:50So they absolutely backed it.
32:53But they just couldn't score.
32:54And like I said, Max Anderson really stood out.
32:56Charlie Barker got sponsors man of the match, but arguably Scott Malone probably should
33:01have got man of the match.
33:02He played a left wing back first 90 minutes in the league since leaving Crawley the first
33:09time around and since coming back, sorry.
33:11And he was immense.
33:12He was up and down.
33:13He looked really effective in attack.
33:15He was really good defensively, as you'd expect.
33:17And he just brought a real, as I think Lindsay said, Nelson experience to the side, which
33:22Crawley had probably been lacking a little bit.
33:25So he played really well midweek and against Leighton Orlean in the Virtue Trophy.
33:30But Max Anderson, again, another one who played well in midweek, came in and he just ran the
33:35midfield for Crawley.
33:36He was really, really good.
33:38And I was really impressed.
33:39But we're going to come on to it in a minute.
33:43But yeah, the three strikers worked quite well together as well.
33:46But I'll leave that to the next question.
33:48But they should have got, they should have definitely got something out of it.
33:53And although that it was the best performance of the season so fast, Scott Lindsay was still
33:57a little flat afterwards because he knows it was a missed opportunity.
34:01Yeah, well, he did tweak things, didn't he, Mr. Lindsay, for that one, both formation and
34:05personnel wise.
34:06What was his thinking behind that starting 11 and his tactical switch up, Mark, do you
34:12think?
34:12He said it was something that came to him on Sunday night after he was watching Walsall.
34:17And he, I mean, he's forced into a few changes because he had, he had a MO out, Harry Forster
34:25got a tweak the week before, Carl Scott was suspended, Kane Dixon on international duty.
34:31He's still got Jay Williams, Danny Cashman, out injured, Harvey Davis is still out injured.
34:38So there's a lot of players you'd expect to be in a starting 11 for Crawley Town, not
34:42available.
34:42But he elected to go for Cabbie Shamanga, Ryan Loft and Harry McCurdy all playing free out-and-out
34:51strikers that he hasn't played together yet this season.
34:56They may have played on the pitch at the same time at some point with substitutions and
35:00that, but this is the first time they started it.
35:02And when we got the team sheets, I was looking at Gary Smith from the BBC going, who's playing
35:08where?
35:08We couldn't quite work out what this formation was because Scott Malone was in the side
35:12as well, along with Josh Flynn, Charlie Barker and Dion Conroy.
35:15And Scott Malone has been playing as one of the free centre-backs in the games he has been
35:18playing.
35:19So we thought, is he going back to a back four?
35:22Is he doing something completely different?
35:24But he didn't change to back three.
35:25That still stayed the same.
35:26Scott Malone on the left wing back.
35:28And it was, yeah, McCurdy dropped a little bit deeper with Shamanga and Loft sort of playing
35:33up top.
35:35And normally you get the one up top with Scott Lindsay and the two just behind and that.
35:39So, but they worked really well together and it's going to be really interesting to see
35:43when he has other players back, whether he sticks with this because it did work so well.
35:49But he said it, what was his quote afterwards?
35:53He said, it was a really courageous selection from me digging himself up.
35:58He said, I thought about it on Sunday after watching a little bit of Walsall.
36:02And I found if we did it, we would find spaces with Harry McCurdy withdrawn slightly.
36:07We worked on it hard all week.
36:09I spoke to the coaching staff about it Sunday night.
36:11And I thought it was something I wanted to try.
36:13And he said, if you're going to be courageous, you might as well be courageous against top
36:16of the league.
36:16And he thought it worked really well, apart from that final product of getting the ball
36:20back of the net.
36:21So, I'm, yeah, I'm really intrigued when you've got the likes of Danny Cashman,
36:26Van Gariadie M.O. and all that, if he is going to have that sort of really attacking
36:33line-up.
36:34He plays attacking football, but he doesn't normally have that many people who are natural
36:39attackers that are up the pitch.
36:41So, yeah, it's going to be really interesting.
36:43But, yeah, it was a brilliant game to watch.
36:45There was one of the fans in front, who always sits in front of the press box, always comes
36:50with his son-in-law, grandkids and that.
36:53He came on his own on Saturday, and he held up the seven seasons of this contest.
36:58None of them wanted to come.
36:59And that was before the game.
37:00And he said, and I can understand why.
37:02Because it hasn't been great this season, especially Cambridge the week before and that.
37:07But afterwards, I said, they're going to want to come now, aren't they, if they saw
37:10that?
37:10And he said, maybe, maybe, because they were that good, but it was just that they
37:15needed luck.
37:16You made your own luck, but they made their own luck on Saturday, but it just didn't still
37:21come off.
37:22So, there's still something there not quite working for them, but it will come at some
37:26point, I'm sure.
37:28And hopefully this weekend.
37:29I thought you were going to tell me that Scott Lindsay having some inspiration on Sunday
37:32was that much vaunted divine inspiration that he's been so desperate for.
37:37Yeah, he went to church.
37:38He went to confession.
37:40No, but there was a fan dressed as a priest on the end of the game.
37:45And yeah, that was quite fun to see.
37:47And he stood there with his cross on the big before the game.
37:51So, maybe it helped a little bit.
37:53Maybe it helped a little bit.
37:54Yeah, hopefully it'll be their next home game.
37:56We'll hit them on.
37:57The Reds have what looks like an early six-pointer, if there is such a thing, in October when they
38:02take on Shrewsbury on Saturday.
38:04It's a big one, isn't it, Mark?
38:06How vital is a win for Crawley Town?
38:08Oh, they've got to win, because otherwise they're just getting dragged.
38:12Because, yeah, because straight after the game on Saturday, I was quite kind of buzzing.
38:16I was like, wow, this is really good.
38:18And then one of the fans walked past me and he said, well, one point off bottom because
38:21of that draw.
38:22I was just like, all right, keep it up.
38:24Keep your chin up, son.
38:25It's just like, yeah, really sort of buzzed Killington.
38:28It was, and yeah, but you look at the table and it does look quite desperate at the moment.
38:34So, yeah, a win.
38:36I mean, they're on almost, they're neck and neck with Shrewsbury.
38:39They're only above them because they've scored one more goal than Shrewsbury.
38:42So, yeah, so that's the only reason they're above them.
38:47So, it's a really, really important game.
38:51But Scott Lindsay said they've got to take a lot of heart from the Walsall performance.
38:55And, yeah, it's not going to be easy because Shrewsbury beat Cambridge on Saturday,
39:00who obviously beat Crawley the week before.
39:02So, but he thinks they're a good side, but he thinks that they're probably over a very,
39:07very, very good side.
39:08They're just waiting to pounce on a team.
39:12And hopefully it comes this Saturday, but away from home against a side who have obviously
39:16just beaten Cambridge, it's not going to be easy.
39:19But a win at this point is the only option.
39:23Yeah, you just don't want them to get, because once you're in there, I think, yeah,
39:26the spectre of National League looms large, doesn't it, when you're in those relegation places, Mark?
39:31Exactly, yes.
39:32And with Choutenham, who obviously got battered 7-1 by Grimsby the other week.
39:37Now, they've made a managerial change.
39:39So, you'd imagine things will start changing for them.
39:43I mean, Newport, who are below Crawley, they beat Crawley at the Broadfield Stadium earlier
39:46in the season.
39:48So, it's proper cliche.
39:51There's no easy games in League 2.
39:53But you just look at the things.
39:56When is the next win going to come?
39:58And you look at the team, the matches they've got, teams they've got to play.
40:02It's not going to be easy.
40:04But a win away at Shrewsbury, that can lift everything.
40:08Absolutely.
40:08Breed a bit of confidence.
40:09Best of luck to Crawley this weekend.
40:11And as is tradition, we will come to score predictions to round out the podcast.
40:15Starting with Brian, home to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
40:18Darren, how do you see this one going?
40:20I think it could go either way, really.
40:25Oh, you're on mute.
40:27Wouldn't be a hundredth episode without it, would it?
40:29Yeah, good to start the hundredth episode, as I mean, to go on for the next episode.
40:35Okay.
40:36So, I'm determined to get my first prediction of the next century correct.
40:39But it's always tough to predict after the international break.
40:43But I'm going to go 1-1, I think.
40:47Sam, how do you see this one going?
40:50Would you take a 1-1?
40:53I would.
40:53I would take a 1-1.
40:54But I'm going to go 1 better.
40:56I think Brighton are going to win 2-1.
40:59Mark, do you share Sam's optimism and confidence?
41:03I do, actually, this week.
41:04Normally, I'm quite down on Brighton.
41:06Although I tend to predict correctly.
41:08But I do see them.
41:13I think they're better against the better sides at home.
41:18So, I'm going to go for a few more goals, though.
41:203-2 I'm going to go for.
41:223-2 win.
41:23It's going to be an exciting one.
41:24Yeah.
41:24Best of luck to Brighton this weekend.
41:26And finally, Crawley off to Shrewsbury.
41:29Is it going to be one of those heart and head decisions that you made last week, Mark?
41:32What do you reckon?
41:33No, they say the same thing this week.
41:35A 2-1 win for Crawley.
41:36So, they've got no choice.
41:39They played really well.
41:41And I think it's going to be, if he's got players back, it's going to be a brave decision
41:45from him to stick with the same side.
41:47And for me, he should stick with the same side.
41:50Because that team, it was the best performance I've seen all season.
41:53So, yeah, I'm going for a 2-1.
41:56Sam, if that's not convinced you of a Crawley win, I don't know what will.
41:59Big game, this one.
42:00Yeah, same number of points, same goal difference.
42:03Obviously, that will change.
42:04Unless it's 0-0 or 1-0, of course.
42:06So, yeah, just completely prove it's wrong immediately.
42:12I'll agree.
42:132-1 Crawley.
42:14We're going for a clean sweep of wins then.
42:16Crawley wins.
42:17Yeah, I was going to go 2-1 as well.
42:19So, I'm going to stick with 2-1 as well.
42:21So, yeah, clean sweep.
42:24Excellent.
42:25Best of luck to Crawley this weekend.
42:26And thank you very much for listening to this very special episode.
42:29Here's to the next 100, hopefully.
42:31You can catch up with all the latest sports news covering everything we've talked about today at statusworld.co.uk forward slash sport.
42:36My thanks to Derren, Sam and Mark for joining us.
42:39And we will see you all next week.
42:41Happy 100, everyone.
42:42Yeah.
42:42Hey, I'll see you again.
42:47Bye.
42:49Cheers.
42:50Bye.
42:50Bye.
42:50Bye.
42:51Bye.
42:59Bye.
43:02Bye.
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