Crawley Town boss Lindsey: I don’t pick the team, the players do
Crawley Town manager Scott Lindsey has reiterated that any member of his squad can work their way into his starting XI.
His statement comes amid the fine recent form of forward Kabby Tshimanga, who has come off the bench to score crucial goals in back-to-back games.
First, the 28-year-old polished off a delightful team move to earn his side a 2-2 draw at Gillingham. The late goal was no less than the Reds deserved and capped a brilliant away performance.
Then in the 1-1 draw against Accrington Stanley, Tshimanga found the back of the net from a corner. He found himself in the right place at the right time to bag another important equaliser.
Lindsey – speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to Salford City, where Tshimanga started – put the impetus on players like him to keep performing at a high level to make it impossible for them to be left out.
“I'm always tempted to throw players in from the start if they come on the pitch and score two goals,” he said.
“In actual fact, I don't pick the team, the players do. And they've always picked the team. It's just I'm the facilitator. They pick the team. If they do well in training, they do well in games, then they get on the pitch.”
The importance of a strong set of substitutes shouldn’t be underestimated, either.
All of Tshimanga’s three goals in League Two this campaign have come when he has appeared off the bench.
Particularly in the Accrington Stanley game, the forward provided a different type of outlet that changed the match’s trajectory. His hold-up play brought more players into the game and added urgency to Crawley’s comeback effort.
He replaced the returning Harry McKirdy, who put in a lively first-half performance, coming closest to scoring for the Reds.
With McKirdy rebuilding his fitness after absence, Tshimanga will play a vital role in supporting the club’s 2025-26 top-scorer in the coming weeks.