Drummy takes responsibility for second half collapse

Crawley Town new head coach Dermot Drummy admitted his side looked '˜Dishevelled' in the second half against bottom of the table Dagenham.
Sky Bet League 2 side Crawley Town FC have appointed former Chelsea and Arsenal coach Dermot Drummy as their new manager on a two-year deal. Pic Steve Robards SR1612114 SUS-160429-141536001Sky Bet League 2 side Crawley Town FC have appointed former Chelsea and Arsenal coach Dermot Drummy as their new manager on a two-year deal. Pic Steve Robards SR1612114 SUS-160429-141536001
Sky Bet League 2 side Crawley Town FC have appointed former Chelsea and Arsenal coach Dermot Drummy as their new manager on a two-year deal. Pic Steve Robards SR1612114 SUS-160429-141536001

The ex-Chelsea and Arsenal youth coach had only had two training sessions with the team since being appointed.

But despite this Crawley seemed to relish their new 4-3-3 system, with strikers Lee Barnard, Liam McAlinden and Shamir Fenelon all starting and creating some chances during a promising first half.

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But Reds went from drawing level at 0-0 at half-time to losing 3-0 through two goals in three minutes by Christian Doidge plus another by Ashley Hemmings with 12 minutes to go.

He revealed his players were adapting to new systems he introduced.

Drummy said: “First half I thought it was even - not opening too many chances.

“The second half they pressed us and we gave the ball away.

“The first goal we could done better, the second goal was a mishap - one of those things.

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“I changed it from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 to try to push Lewis on to get a goal and it didn’t happen, and we gave another one away.

“I’m not disappointed in the players’ mentality at all and I am more pleased with certain players who never gave up running and trying to change and make things happen.

“I am confident in myself and next season we will be looking to get it right. I take the challenge on the chin and will get on with it.”

Despite the poor result, Drummy took positives from the performance.

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He said: “First half Lewis Young really looked great, had good movement and I was pleased with him. I thought Shamir (Fenelon) did really well and Bobson (Bawling) came on and looked like he had legs. In the first half I was pleased with everybody.”

Drummy praised his opposite number for notching up their second successive win.

He said: “Dagenham have done a job. John Still is a very seasoned manager and it’s for me to go home, stick on the DVD and see where we went wrong.

“We gave silly balls away and were dishevelled at the end.

“But it was my decision to change the system and not the players.

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“I don’t sense a bad attitude with the players, I sense a despondency because we lost again.

“But I’m saying we lost again but we tried something different because that’s the way I’m going to play, and trust me it’ll come good next season.”

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