WE’RE BACK ON TRACK! – CIOFFI
CRAWLEY head coach Gabriele Cioffi felt his side were “back on track” after they recovered from going a goal behind to overcome Colchester United.
Luke Prosser headed the U`s in front ten minutes before the break, but second-half goals from Reece Grego-Cox and Mason Bloomfield secured the Reds’ first win in five league games.
Crawley also struck a post twice in the second half and a delighted Cioffi said: “I’m proud of what we have done. In the second half we played our way; with aggression on the front foot.
“We were not humble enough previously at Forest Green, but we are now back on track. No one gave up even in a flat first half. For us, to get back on track and move closer to 50 points, is what was needed.”
He added: “We were poor in the first half, but it was vital to get to 1-1 quickly and the boys are playing positively. We didn’t have a midweek game and that helped us a lot. We are fast learners and that is the mentality we’ve created from day one.”
Crawley gave a first league start to Tarryn Allarakhia and he was off target during the first half following a free-kick by Nathan Ferguson.
Colchester threatened for the first time when Frank Nouble set up Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu, but he put the ball over from close range.
The U’s broke the deadlock after 35 minutes when, from a corner by Kwame Poku, Prosser notched his first goal of the season with a header.
Colchester keeper Dean Gerken was forced into his first save six minutes after the break when he held a low shot from Grego-Cox following a run by Ferguson.
Crawley have scored in every league game since March 30 and they continued the knack with Grego-Cox levelling after 55 minutes with a fierce low shot into the corner.
Keeper Gerken came to Colchester’s rescue shortly after by turning a shot from substitute Ashley NathanielGeorge against a post.
Crawley turned the game around ten minutes from time when defender Ashley Young crossed for striker Bloomfield to head home from close range. The Reds almost added a third in stoppage time, but Bez Lubala’s shot cannoned back off a post.
Colchester boss John McGreal described his side’s second-half display as “not good enough” as they crashed to their first defeat in six league and cup games.
He said: “The players have let themselves down. We felt we were on a good run and we must pick ourselves up again.
“We had felt we had turned the corner after the start that we had. We needed a quick start and didn’t get it. We knew they would be a reaction from Crawley in the second half. They are the top team for shots outside the box, but we let ourselves down.”