Harry plays it Kewell in coach debut
HARRY Kewell’s playing career may have started in the English Premier League but his senior managerial career began in relative anonymity in Crawley, a working class town 50km south of London.
Kewell emerged from the tunnel dressed sharply and receiving a warm reception from the 2270-strong crowd, and for the next 110 minutes he endured the full gamut of emotions in the League Two clash with Port Vale.
Two goals down within 26 minutes, Kewell kept his cool and a shrewd tactical tweak and stern halftime address later, Crawley Town scored and were dominating playing a possession-based game.
Kewell paced down the touchline, urging his players forward with momentum and Broadfield Stadium crowd noise building, before the fourth official called him back into his technical area.
Visitors Port Vale, whose first two goals were aided by a deflection and lucky free kick, scored a late sealer as Crawley pushed for a winner.
The 3-1 loss was not a fair reflection of Kewell’s impressive and unlucky debut, with a nervy start and naivety from his players costing Crawley at least a draw, if not more.
‘‘We can’t have this League Two mentality (resign to kicking it long),’’ he said.
‘‘In the first half I felt we played too many long passes, in the second half we got the ball on the ground and moved it, it’s just a shame we didn’t finish our chances.”
Crawley this week face Birmingham in the League Cup.