Crawley Town interim manager Lewis Young: The boys are starting to realise their potential

Interim manager Lewis Young said Crawley Town are ‘starting to realise their potential’ after defeating fourth-placed Mansfield Town 3-2 on Saturday.
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Young has now won all three of his games since taking charge of the side two weeks ago.

With the club now out of the relegation zone, and playing their best football all season, Young said: “The boys are starting to realise their potential. It was a fantastic performance and I’m overly happy about today.”

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Crawley were 2-0 up against the Stags inside quarter-of-an-hour. However, a penalty from Mansfield’s Jordan Bowery and a George Lapslie header drew the match level before the half-hour mark.

Interim manager Lewis Young said Crawley Town are ‘starting to realise their potential’ after defeating fourth-placed Mansfield Town 3-2 on Saturday. Picture by Cory PickfordInterim manager Lewis Young said Crawley Town are ‘starting to realise their potential’ after defeating fourth-placed Mansfield Town 3-2 on Saturday. Picture by Cory Pickford
Interim manager Lewis Young said Crawley Town are ‘starting to realise their potential’ after defeating fourth-placed Mansfield Town 3-2 on Saturday. Picture by Cory Pickford

With Mansfield back in the game heading into the break, the Reds returned to the pitch full of conviction and Ashley Nadesan scored the match winner only two minutes into the second period.

“I just gave them a little confidence boost,” said Young on his half-time team talk. “As long as we kept a clean sheet in the second half, we will go onto win it because we’ll always create chances.”

The partnership of Nadesan and Tom Nichols was vital in delivering Crawley’s third league win of the season.

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Both of Nadesan’s goals were provided by his striker partner and Nichols grabbed the Reds’ second.

“Nadders [Nadesan] was unplayable,” said Young. “He’s been fantastic all season alongside Nichols. There was a reason their manager [Nigel Clough] named checked them in the media this week.”

In the last three games, strikers Dom Telford, Aaramide Oteh, Nichols and Nadesan have all been on the scoresheet for the Reds.

With a team brimming full of goalscoring potential, Young will have the difficult task of man managing his squad.

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“The first thing I did after the game was apologise to Dom Telford,” said Young. “I had to say, ‘sorry I couldn’t get you on,’ because he deserved minutes after his performance in the last game. But we know we’re going to need him because he’s a massive player.

“All four of our strikers have been scoring so it makes it a real tough one for me. But as long as they keep doing their job, it’s going to be a real headache going forward.”

Crawley’s form has completely turned around under the temporary management of Young. On the impact the recent results have provided, Young said, “It’s nice to start seeing the crowd a bit full, buzzing and happy. The place is starting to get that belief again.

“Long may it continue, but at the minute we’re still 21st in the league so we have a long way to go.

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“We’re in a good moment right now, but it’s only a moment. It’s only three games and it’s only been a week of results.

“We’ve got to remember that, put a lid on that first week and make sure we keep our approach and performances consistent.”

The Reds are back in action this Tuesday away to second-from-bottom Colchester United in the league.