HOLLINS PRAISES COMMITTED EFFORT
Crawley Town boss John Hollins said he could not have asked for more from his players against Accrington after the club's traumatic build-up to their game against the runaway league leaders.

“Accrington are the best team in the league – the table tells us that – and I told the players today that this was a game we could not really lose, as everyone expected them to win, and to go out there and see what you can do.

“I told them they're all in the shop window now and this was a chance to show how good they are.

“For 41 minutes before their goal we matched them, forced a few corners and had some chances, put some good moves together and I can't fault a single player's commitment – Steve Burton was obviously disappointed about being taken off but I haven't got a problem with that – I like his style, it shows he has feelings and opinions and wants to play.

“For their goal I was thinking ‘stop the cross' but it turned out it wasn't a cross, it was a shot, you can argue about whether he meant it but he could not have hit it any better whether he did or didn't. Phil never had a chance.

“That was bad luck and we were chasing the game and we lost our momentum at the start of the second half but then we got back in it. Ekoku and Coleman changed our shape and the ball just didn't run for us. But that is the top team in the league and we lost 1-0, while the teams around us were losing 5-0.”

Hollins said he is determined to keep the club in the Conference despite the current financial restraints.

“Afterwards I thanked the players for their unbelievable effort, which showed strength and courage.

“As of tonight only Simon Wormull has left. I will take Monday when it comes but no-one has so far told me they won't be coming to training.

“This club has got to be in this league and now I've got my teeth into the job I am determined to make sure we do.

“The financial situation is frustrating but we are up for the challenge. We lost 1-0 to the team that will be champions.

“I can't fault the players after the week we have had. We didn't train on Thursday so maybe we could have been better prepared but today they proved they want to play.

“We all want to know what's going on but I still don't know what I will be working with on Monday. The only difference now is that whenever one of players is asked about by another club I have to inform them, although I have done that from day one anyway.

“I'm still here, doing the job I came here to do.”

And the Reds boss also thanked the Red Devils supporters for getting behind the players.

“The crowd were good today, they supported the team. It's a passionate business and they have the right to say what they like to me but we'll keep doing our best to keep this club in the Conference.”

WOOZLEY THANKS FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
Crawley Town defender David Woozley said the current financial trouble at Broadfield Stadium will not stop the players giving 100 per cent on the field.

Woozley, who is the club's PFA delegate in their negotiations with the Conference and the FA, said after Saturday's game: “It's obviously been difficult with the extra emotional baggage to deal with but when you get out onto the pitch there can be no excuses.

“There was never any doubt about the team playing today because we have a good group of players.

“We have been in contact with the PFA so we know what our rights are with regard to the contracts, which the players signed in good faith. It's totally been sprung on us because we have worked on the basis that we would get full wages – and we are paid in arrears.

“But the players are keen to get the message to the fans that we appreciate your support and thank you for getting behind the players.”

“We know we are responsible for the league position the club is in because we haven't performed on the pitch and got the right results, but we have responsibilities to our families, our wives and children.

“We know it's hard for the fans, too, and we appreciate that although the players are suffering financially, that the fans have been here longer than the players and will probably be here after we have gone, so they feel it too and it's not fair on them either.

“We'll deal with the situation as it develops. It's not going to benefit us to strike as we need to train to get the results we want on the pitch. We just want to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.”

REDS BATTLE IN VAIN AGAINST CHAMPIONS-ELECT
Crawley gave a good account of themselves against likely Conference champions Accrington Stanley at Broadfield Stadium on Saturday, with only a miraculous first-half strike by Gary Roberts separating the teams.

Losing against Accy is no disgrace, given that the Lancashire side are now 16 points clear of the field with 11 games to play, and that John Coleman's side have now won 15 and lost two of their last 17 league matches.

But Stanley kept up their incredible record of scoring in every league game this season and for all their efforts after a troubled week, the Red Devils came up just short.

Crawley boss John Hollins made only one change to the side that had drawn 1-1 at Gravesend four days earlier, with Steve Burton replacing the injured Gavin Gordon up front, while Omari Coleman, Scott Ward and David Woozley were back in the matchday 16.

And the Reds, 20 places below Accrington , made all the early running, forcing a series of corners and creating the first decent chance of the game after just four minutes as a surging run down the left by Tony Scully saw him cross for Daryl Clare, but the striker's sidefoot shot was hacked off the line by a defender.

An uncharacteristic error from Ben Judge gave Stanley a chance to strike back five minutes later, as Rommy Boco latched onto his short back pass only to be foiled by a fine Chris Giles recovery tackle.

Lee Blackburn went into the book for a late challenge on Ian Craney, and this seemed to upset the free-scoring midfielder, who spent the rest of the match trying to exact retribution. He was fit enough just a minute later, though, as his low drive after a Paul Mullin flick-on was well turned away for a corner by home keeper Phil Smith.

Danny Clay's shot through a crowd of players was dealt with by visiting goalie Rob Elliott, and Accy went close after 21 minutes as former Burnley man Mullin sent a header from Andy Todd's right wing cross past the post.

Blackburn's foraging set up another chance for Crawley after 27 minutes as the ball was worked from skipper Danny Brown, who had another solid game in his new left-back role, to Paul Armstrong and his cutback set up Steve Burton, whose effort was turned around for another Reds corner. Elliott had to move smartly again after 36 minutes as Clare challenged for the ball from a Brown free-kick on the right and the keeper smothered the ball with Burton about to pull the trigger from close range.

The home side seemed to be gaining in confidence and Clare tried an audacious 35-yard lob that wasn't too far away, before Accy conjured up what proved to be the winning goal. Roberts was 25 yards out on the right and cut in to curl an unstoppable shot into the far corner. Smith's performance would otherwise have justified him keeping the first clean sheet against Stanley this season, but no keeper would have stood a chance against this quality strike.

Much of the second half was forgettable, with few goalscoring chances and the stalemate only sporadically broken by outbreaks of aggression. Craney charged Blackburn to the ground after 56 minutes but escaped without punishment and two minutes later Hollins opted to change his attacking options by introducing a fit-again Coleman and Danny Ekoku for Armstrong and Burton . Ekoku went wide on the left, with Scully switching back to the right flank and Blackburn moving to the centre.

Although the formation was soon changed again, as Neil Jenkins, goalscoring hero at Gravesend , came on in his usual left-sided role for the injured Scully after 73 minutes and was booked within a minute for a foul on Danny Ventre, whose retaliation went unnoticed by the referee.

The half only really got going in the final ten minutes, sparked by Coleman blasting a left-footed snap shot over after a long ball from Judge after 80 minutes, and Clare was brought down on the edge of the box two minutes later, beating the wall but finding the keeper when taking the free-kick himself.

Stanley were always going to be dangerous on the counter, though, and it could have been game over when Mullin's clever flick put sub Andy Mangan clear soon afterwards but Smith was out smartly to snatch the ball away.

A surging run from fans' February player of the month Leo Mendy put Clare away on the left after 86 minutes and his pass into the area saw Coleman denied but there was still time for Craney to get his long sought-after caution, following a scuffle after he shepherded the ball out under pressure from Clay, who was also booked.

Accy had to hack the ball of their line again in a frantic finale, and Smith ventured into the visitors' area at a corner as Crawley attempted to repeat their injury-time equaliser against the Fleet, getting back to make an athletic diving catch on the edge of his own area in order to prevent a goal from his opposite number, Elliot's big clearance.

Result: Saturday 4th March (Nationwide Conference)
Crawley Town 0
Accrington Stanley 1
Attendance: 1,316
Crawley Town: Smith, Judge, Mendy, Giles, Brown, Scully (Jenkins 73), Blackburn, Armstrong (Ekoku 58), Clay, Burton (Coleman 58), Clare.
Unused subs: Ward, Woozley.