FAN’S COLUMN: Good teamwork was undone by mistakes

Another last minute defeat brought a third first hurdle exit in cup competitions so we trust that Hastings United have not made it four by the time you read this.

Luton Town were hardly worthy winners but the Reds’ performance was sadly the same as it ever was.

Once again we could have been home and dry by the interval but the good teamwork was undone by individuals.

Firstly referee Nick Kinseley had problems spotting any sort of misdemeanour.

The strikers were manhandled as is common at this level of the game but whilst Matt Harrold took it in his stride Rhys Murphy coped less well and his game ebbed away to his least effective display in a Crawley shirt.

At the back Sonny Bradley had a game we would all wish to forget.

In his post-match interview he conceded his error that led to Luton’s first goal and similarly Mark Yates pointed out that Paul Benson had too much time to cross for the winner.

That was Sonny’s fault again and it must be difficult for the manager that the player whose form has slumped the most is his captain.

That Benson’s cross led a comic book incident involving Josh Yorwerth and Christian Scales to the benefit of scorer Josh McQuoid simply typified the way the gods are certainly not with us.

But whilst the ever dwindling number of Crawley fans can accept undeserved outcomes they are getting more than a little frustrated with the management.

And nothing baffles them more than the use, or lack of substitutes.

I am reminded of the frequent cries a while back of “Change it, Barker” which often meant that Sergio Torres was given three minutes in which to try and save the world.

Now it is a case of: “What’s the use of naming seven subs when you don’t use any of them.”

Well three did get on the pitch but when the first of them arrived as late as the 83rd minute it was obvious that their chances of making a difference was very limited.

In deference to the Reds’ current boss I have to say that over many seasons of watching football around this town I have yet to see a manager make proper use of his full squad.

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