Dean Saunders: ‘We lacked energy and had no clear-cut chances’

It was a tough marathon trip to undertake against the 11th placed side when they had not won a game since beating Walsall 1-0 on October 21.

He admitted: “The first half was just a scrap and neither goalkeeper had a lot to do. They scored from a free-kick just on half-time which went straight through Lewis (Price) and that was the difference between the two sides.

“In the second half we were much better. We just gave the ball away too much at times and did not have enough shots at goal.

“It was a disappointing result for us. I stuck three strikers on the pitch in the end and pushed the full-backs forward and played Gwion (Edwards) on the side of midfield just to have as many players on the pitch who could score as we could.

“We just didn’t get the equaliser.”

Saunders emphasised Crawley’s bad run of 13 league games without a win started well before he arrived at the club just three weeks ago.

He said: “The players have gone a long time without a win before I got there and it took its toll on them.

“Players are nervous and you can’t buy confidence either, we just need a win.

“We never had any glaring clear-cut open chances. It’s worrying ‘cos you’ve got to score goals. It’s hard to find strikers and players who score goals in January because people don’t let them go.”

Saunders praised the 95 fans who made the 560-mile round trip to Lancashire.

He said: “They travelled all this way. I thought they did great with their singing. I knew they were frustrated at the end. I am frustrated as well and the players are.

“We looked a bit short of energy at times at in the middle of the pitch. I’m going to have to do something about that.”