Crawley boss Drummy: We just lost to the best team in the league

Crawley Town head coach Dermot Drummy was upbeat despite overseeing his side's 2-0 defeat at home to Portsmouth.
Crawley Town head coach Dermot DrummyCrawley Town head coach Dermot Drummy
Crawley Town head coach Dermot Drummy

Having played three of the best teams in the division (Exeter City, Doncaster Rovers and Portsmouth) in the space of eight days, he identified Pompey as being the best team in League 2.

Drummy said: "I thought we probably played the best team in the league in my opinion.

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"They really moved the ball, they've got really good players everywhere.

Portsmouth players celebrate their first goal.
Pictures by JON RIGBYPortsmouth players celebrate their first goal.
Pictures by JON RIGBY
Portsmouth players celebrate their first goal. Pictures by JON RIGBY

"I thought our game-plan in the first half was excellent, to not let them get in behind us.

"We restricted them to wide-play and had a close encounter ourselves at one stage."

Drummy praised goalkeeper Glenn Morris' second successive penalty save but said the team switched off afterwards, allowing Portsmouth to take the lead.

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He said: "It was a bit of a chess game in the first half but second half a good save from Glenn and then we go to sleep.

Reds skipper Jimmy Smith goes into a challenge.
Picture by JON RIGBYReds skipper Jimmy Smith goes into a challenge.
Picture by JON RIGBY
Reds skipper Jimmy Smith goes into a challenge. Picture by JON RIGBY

"That's the disappointing thing; the first goal. Their fans are on it and we then got a nutmeg on Josh (Lelan) and their guy cracks in a decent strike."

Drummy admitted Morris was kept busy but reckoned his side could have grabbed a goal in the second half from missed chances.

He said: "Glenn was working hard but I thought Joe McNerney and James Collins could have scored from set-play.

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"I'm disappointed but not despondent because I think we go to Barnet on the back of a very good performance.

Portsmouth players celebrate their opening goal.
Picture by JON RIGBYPortsmouth players celebrate their opening goal.
Picture by JON RIGBY
Portsmouth players celebrate their opening goal. Picture by JON RIGBY

"We've lost some poor games here and it's very hard to pick the side up.

"I don't really think I'll have to pick them up too much because they weren't poor.

"They worked the game-plan and then opened up and the subs did well they came on, so we've lost to a good side."