Walsall v Crawley Town preview: Reds' interim boss praises counterpart Michael Flynn ahead of League Two clash

Walsall ended October with six wins from nine league games under Flynn, who was named as League Two’s manager of the month.

“Michael Flynn has done a fantastic job recently,” said Young, who was also nominated for October’s manager of the month. “I think he pipped a few of us for the manager of the month award.”

Walsall are five places above Crawley in 13th after six wins, six draws and six losses in their 18 opening games. On his upcoming opponents, Young said, “They’ve got matchwinners all across the pitch and they’re really strong defensively. But with a little feather in our own cap, you’ve got to look at the strikers we’ve got and the chances they create.”

Crawley got their first clean sheet under Young last Saturday as they defeated Barrow 1-0 at home. After hard fought performance last time out in the league, Young said, “Ideally, I want to take that clean sheet into the next game. But we understand every game is different and Walsall are one of the in-form teams of the league at the moment. As are we. It should stand for a real high-quality game.”

Young has taken Crawley from 24th to 18th in League Two since replacing Kevin Betsy as head coach last month. On the Reds strong form, Young said, “We’re pulling together some really good results currently but there’s still parts of our game that need improving. We strive every day for that.”

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On Tuesday, the Reds suffered a shock defeat to Hastings United to knock them out of the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup. On the recent defeat which featured six Crawley players who played against Burnley in the previous week, Young said, “I came away from it with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I think it was down to attitude which I told them after the game. It’s sometimes hard to hear but it’s reality.

“But plaudits to Hastings and their staff who did a job on us on, sat in and made it really difficult to get on the ascendancy.”

The Reds will travel 145 miles on Saturday to Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium with a chance to surpass Sutton United in 17th place.

You can see more Crawley Town news here.

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