Connolly: We are ready for Wycombe Wanderers

Mark Connolly. Crawley Town FC. Picture by Phil Westlake SUS-160718-113307001

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Crawley Town centre-back Mark Connolly says they are ready for the start of the new campaign after a positive pre-season schedule.

They concluded their friendly fixtures with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at National League side Aldershot Town on Saturday.

That followed victories over East Grinstead, Three Bridges, Worthing and Lewes, a loss against Brighton & Hove Albion and narrow defeat to Millwall.

Reds kick-off their League Two campaign at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday and Connolly, who re-signed for the club at the start on the month on a two-year deal, said: “I think we are ready.

“The fitness is fine, everyone has got through 90 minutes in the whole of pre-season, which is great.

“Aldershot are a good team, a big club and a good team and the put it up against us.

“It was nice to get a clean sheet, it would have been nice to win the game, but I think we are ready for Wycombe. That’s the big one that everyone has one eye on.

“You can’t read into pre-season games too much when you play the likes of Brighton and Millwall and we have done well.

“We have passed the ball well and it’s just tidying up on a few errors here and there. That is going to happen in pre-season with new players - a lot of new players.

“The manager is getting to know a lot of players and getting to know his starting XI which is a big thing.”

As well as keeping it tight at the back, Connolly felt he should have found the net at the other end with a second-half header last Saturday.

But he is pleased with the way they are defending as a team, he added: “I should have scored and the manager is giving me stick about not scoring. A clean sheet is always nice as Aldershot had their chances.

“They are a big team from corners and that, but I think we dealt with it quite well in the back four. But also it comes from the midfield, they help us out and James Collins comes back in for corners, winning headers.

“I am delighted with the clean sheet, but it’s all about Wycombe next week.”

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