'We just can’t keep letting them down' - Crawley Town captain lambasts side after Fleetwood defeat
Captain Jay Williams lambasted Crawley Town’s season as ‘not acceptable’ after a 1-0 defeat to Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium on Saturday.
Cods’ striker Ched Evans netted the only goal of the game in the 57th minute, finding the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box.
The defeat – their 20th of the season – left the 21st-placed Reds a point above the relegation zone.
It was a seventh goalless outing in their last 10 games for Scott Lindsey’s side and a 13th away loss of the campaign.
“Massively disappointing,” Williams said. “I felt as if we turned a corner maybe [after the] Swindon game and following that, but we’re 39 games in now and we can’t lose games in the manner we have then.
“We’ve got people here that have been following us all season. We’ve been so bad all season and we just can’t keep letting them down. It kills me to just stand there at the end. We’re clapping them but it means more than that.
“I feel for them because as much as we’re trying, we’ve got to be better. It’s just not acceptable.”
The Reds were fortunate that all their League Two relegation rivals were also defeated, but Williams was frustrated that they could not capitalise themselves.
He said: “We can’t be going into games thinking: ‘We want to draw today.’ We have to win. I know the other teams today haven’t taken advantage of the situation, but we have to be the ones to take advantage of the situation.
“The position we’re in – it's going to affect people’s lives. I love this club and I can’t see it fall down the way it is by us not giving more and not turning up. It’s just massively disappointing.”
The Reds’ captain spoke candidly about the impact their possible relegation from the EFL could have on the club.
“It means more than just a game of football – it's peoples’ careers,” he said. “If you drop down to the National League, it’s tough to get out of there. There are fans here that come and support and want to be at better stadiums. You drop down – you're playing at different places.
“There are people at the club that might lose their jobs. The gaffer has given us a platform every single game, and we’re letting him down. We’re in there – we know we’re letting him down. We talk about it.
“It has to change because he’s giving us the platform to do the right things and we’re just a yard off here, not listening here. Honestly, it’s just so disappointing.”
Williams shared what he believes he and his teammates need to do next in order to turn their fortunes around.
He said: “It’s a cliche but we have to regroup Monday, have a meeting, go through what was wrong. There’s no point pointing fingers at this point in the season – we have to stay together.
“It’s less about the ability of people now. It’s about the character and the fight to keep this club where it should be, because we haven’t been good enough all season.
“I don’t think the results are going to come from magic moments. I think it’s going to come from fight, belief, passion, and dying for the cause. That’s what the situation is now.”
Crawley are back in action next Saturday when they host Gillingham at the Broadfield Stadium.