Tilley put in a great performance. When will we sign Tom Daley? Seriously though, both penalty awards could be in the category of "seen 'em not given", but that bit of help came in handy. I felt both awards could have gone either way.
Portsmouth by all accounts had a very strong side out last night and it showed. They were fast, tricky, skilful and organised but you know what? so were we. Some outstanding performances, most notably Tilley (my MoM), Zaid (who was outstanding on his debut), Dom, Harry and Tony at the back, Mark Marshall and Teddy Jenks. That doesn't tell the whole story though - every single player was fantastic. Full of running, clever interplays - only played out twice from the back and one time we were nearly caught in possession!
I thought we were the better team in the first half. Portsmouth impressed with their clever and fast interplays in the middle and then...it all fizzled out really. They had one meaningful shot in the first half which brought a very smart save from David Robson, who looked confident and sharp all game, again on his debut.
I thought Zaid took a while to settle, there was a nervousness and an inexperience about his early play and he didn't really seem to know where he should be some of the time but he settled well and had a stormer up the right hand side. At the back there were no concerns - Tony, Harry and Travis dealt with everything without any fuss. The midfield were extraordinary - they played the two key roles you need in a midfield - in possession and out of possession and the out of possession work was outstanding - they sat and watched Portsmouth play their fast game in the middle and then they stepped in, at the right time, every time.
Meanwhile up front David Bremang and Dom were putting in the miles. Dom looked great - he was sharp, always looking for the ball and clever when he got it - he could have had a hattrick in the first half. David won a ridiculous amount of headers for his height against two man mountains and was strong on the ball. He didn't link up that well with Dom but these things take time.
Our first goal was from a penalty - Tilley driving into the box, was he taken out? the only person in the ground that mattered thought so. Dom put it away superbly.
Second half the combination of the Portsmouth subs and our youngsters tiring made a big difference. They took the game to us and yet, for all their possession and clever play, they only had two shots on target - both goals. The first was from a corner where we were outnumbered for height and their player had a pretty much unchallenged header - I think he nearly hit the floodlights with his jump. Nothing the keeper could do. The second goal was outstanding. Scarlett (who I thought was their best player by a country mile) took the ball with his back to Tony Craig, turned, Tony got a great tackle in but he seemed to swivel on the ground, regain his feet and swept the ball into the opposite corner. Other than that no goal threats in the second half.
So, to added time. Six minutes on the board - full credit to Crawley as we dominated the last ten minutes and took the game to them, pinning them deep in their own half. Tilley tried a shot on the turn - spun out for a throw in! A number of bobbling balls from corners and free kicks in their box just begging for a final touch and you know what - I think everyone in the crowd expected us to score.
In the last minute of added on time Tilley drove into the box, was sandwiched between two of their players and let's be honest, Tilley knows how to go down convincingly. Second penalty (we had a much better shout earlier in the half than either of the given penalties). David Bremang stepped up and thumped it into the roof of the net.
Cue pandemonium...followed by an emptying of the ground. I think about half the Crawley support left - I don't think they realised we were going to penalties.
Portsmouth's first penalty - missed by a good 3-4 feet. Jack Powell hit the bar, luckily it bounced down and in, Tilley had a weak penalty saved and then David Robson pulled off a magnificent save to see us through.
The referee? I was not sure what he was doing - he let a lot (a lot!) of the play go and to my mind there could have been a lot more fouls given for both teams. He infuriated the Portsmouth fans (and the manager) for not giving dives on the edge of our box - they tried it again and again but we did seem to get the bulk of the decisions, so no complaints from me.
Sorry for all those who missed this one - it was only £10 but the entertainment was outstanding.
For those wondering what team Portsmouth put out, I checked and checked and checked again. The programme said Portsmouth, the BBC said Portsmouth, Sky said it was Portsmouth...so I guess we just beat Portsmouth on penalties.
KEVIN BETSY'S RED ARMY!
Great report. I’ll be honest I thought Pompey had done enough to win the game as their young subs were incredibly talented (England age group someone said). Noticeable that when we went behind at the end, the fans didn’t get on the players’ backs and were rewarded with a performance that while a bit below the levels of the first half still kept fighting to the end. Bravo Tilley who has given Betsy a good problem now about whether he should be retained for this more advanced role behind the strikers
I believe that they do - would be interesting as to know how many actually watch the game on iFollow but we seem reluctant to publish any information about this - what’s good about last nights result is that we are still in the competition as in the past after the first match we are playing catch-up but lying second behind AFC with two points we still have a good chance to progress to the knockout round.
Well done to the supporters that actually bothered to turn up
I'm afraid fatigue intervened in my case - but I do okay for a 65-year old manual worker.
I watched on i-follow. Does anyone know if the club receive a cut of i-follow money?
They do but it’s pretty piss poor which is why I’m glad Preston is looking into hosting our own streaming solution so that most of the proceeds do go to the club. I may be incorrect but I think Accrington have spoken openly about how much they don’t like ifollow.
Lol sorry John did I make the terrible mistake of saying something positive about the club again. Did you go last night, best atmosphere at an EFL Trophy game I can ever remember at the ground, sorry that’s put a crimp in your day! I honestly hope the weather improves for you soon
JTG, I think anybody attending last nights game would have come away in good spirits - it was that sort of game!!Things probably went for us generally but we deserved to get a result as we could have been clear at half time if we had been able to put our chances away - yes we were making lots of chances!! Don't knock Steve for his enthusiasm - it was warrented!
JTG, I think anybody attending last nights game would have come away in good spirits - it was that sort of game!!Things probably went for us generally but we deserved to get a result as we could have been clear at half time if we had been able to put our chances away - yes we were making lots of chances!! Don't knock Steve for his enthusiasm - it was warrented!
If you read Steve's original post, he was implying that due to Betsy's style of play, the Crawley support was more or less double to that of the game four years ago !!
What I pointed out was, the games were played different times of the year - colder night, reduced number of school kids behind the goal and how we actually did in the previous game/s.
Any Politician or Data Analyst can make figures look correct.
If you read Steve's original post, he was implying that due to Betsy's style of play, the Crawley support was more or less double to that of the game four years ago !!
What I pointed out was, the games were played different times of the year - colder night, reduced number of school kids behind the goal and how we actually did in the previous game/s.
Any Politician or Data Analyst can make figures look correct.
JTG
Why not ask me what I meant rather than make up opinions and impute them to me? It's kind of the friendly way to proceed
Well done to the supporters that actually bothered to turn up
I dont agree, as such,but you do know there is a boycott of this trophy going on...don't you? Doubt very much many of our fans take part but you never know.
Take a look around other fans forums and there is a lot of congratulations regarding low turn outs and their own team losing games. Plus a few p takes over us congratulating ourselves on a good turn out.
Well done to the supporters that actually bothered to turn up
I dont agree, as such,but you do know there is a boycott of this trophy going on...don't you? Doubt very much many of our fans take part but you never know.
Take a look around other fans forums and there is a lot of congratulations regarding low turn outs and their own team losing games. Plus a few p takes over us congratulating ourselves on a good turn out.
Jim Baker
Jim, why a boycott - like a lot of things must have passed me by!! I cant see any downside in playing in it and attending the games?
I dont agree, as such,but you do know there is a boycott of this trophy going on...don't you? Doubt very much many of our fans take part but you never know.
Take a look around other fans forums and there is a lot of congratulations regarding low turn outs and their own team losing games. Plus a few p takes over us congratulating ourselves on a good turn out.
Jim Baker
Jim, why a boycott - like a lot of things must have passed me by!! I cant see any downside in playing in it and attending the games?
I do know their is a boycott it’s do with under 21 teams from the premier league