Scott Lindsey takes encouragement from Crawley display despite latest defeat

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey praised his players’ fighting qualities despite his relegation-battling side’s winless run extending to 10 games with a 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood.

Ched Evans’ second-half strike handed them their latest defeat after a run of three successive draws.

Lindsey’s side have gone six away games without a goal in League Two and sit just a point above the relegation zone.

But he said: “I think we huffed and puffed but we couldn’t break the door down today.

“I’m disappointed with the outcome but the team’s showing real fight and character, so I’m pleased with that.

“We’re hurting a little bit so I’ve got to pick the players up and get them ready for another big one next week.”

Evans struck in the 57th minute after Ethan Ennis and Mark Helm combined to set him up on the edge of the area.

Crawley struggled to create chances but almost levelled late on through substitute Lewis Richards

Lindsey added: “Obviously I’m disappointed with the outcome of the game. The first half was probably two teams cancelling each other out.

“The goal was poor but, in the second half, I thought we limited them to very little, and we should have had a penalty, but we didn’t do enough to win the game.

“They probably had another shot late on when we’re charging forward and sending bodies forward.

“Apart from that, I can’t remember anything else. We had some decent chances in that second half, a couple of balls flashed across the face of goal but they defended their box really well.

“Lewis Richards stepped forward with a rasper and the keeper made a good save. When you’re down there, they don’t go in, when you’re up there, they do – and that’s kind of where we’re at.”

Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor, who ended his interim stint by signing a deal until 2028 this week, said: “We’re delighted with the outcome and the three points.

“I thought we were good in the first half and when we scored it became a real battle and we had to dig out the three points. That’s the character that we need going forward at this club and they’ve shown it in droves.

“If you think about how tired, how fatigued they are after the few weeks we’ve just had, with game after game after game and the travel, I’m really pleased with how the lads approached it, how they performed for the majority of the time and one million per cent with how they dug in.

“Crawley played some good football, Scott Lindsey is a fantastic football manager – look at the career and the success that he’s had. I’m just learning on the job so I’m glad we’ve got the three points today.”