Pressley pained by below-par defending
STEVEN Pressley was left ruing ‘three minutes of madness’ as Coventry’s winless run stretched to four matches after they let a two-goal lead slip against Crawley.
City had lost their previous three but started in fine style as John Fleck hit the post in the opening minute before Josh McQuoid gave the hosts a deserved lead 13 minutes later, as he pounced on a fumble from Crawley keeper Jamie Ashdown.
Simeon Jackson doubled the lead on 27 minutes when he finished a flowing move with a smart finish on the turn.
Coventry appeared to be cruising towards half-time until a long punt fell to Gwion Edwards 20 yards from goal and he cut in to curl a rightfoot shot into the top corner in the 33rd minute.
Only four minutes passed before Izale McLeod profited from hesitation between City defender Andrew Webster and keeper Ryan Allsop to nip in and level.
The hosts were the only side that looked like winning the game in the second half but failed to breach Crawley’s diligent defence.
Pressley was pleased with his team’s performance but felt they did not get the result to match.
“I thought we were excellent,” said Pressley.
“We gave the type of performance I expect from my team but we are just so, so disappointed with the result.
“Three minutes of madness have cost us because we have bossed the game for 87 minutes.
“The only thing you can say is that it ends the run of three defeats and gives us something to build on again.
“Of course we want our league position to be better than it is just now but it’s a long old season in this league and we have given ourselves a platform.
“There is disappointment but only because of the result – not the performance.”
Crawley manager John Gregory pointed to his own performance to explain his side’s slow start, admitting he employed the wrong tactics before turning to assistant Paul Groves for advice.
Gregory said:“I probably started with the wrong shape and we got outplayed and my front three in Gwion Edwards, Bob Baldwin and Izale McLeod found it difficult to get close to their shape.
“They played with a back five effectively, two wing-backs, and they got out far too easily.
“Me and Paul talk all the time.
“Paul suggested we go to a five in midfield, which would make it a little bit easier.
“It makes it a little bit easier for our back four behind them but it’s very hard work for that five across the middle.”