Source: FOOTYMAD
Sturrock: 'My players displayed fantastic attitude'; Evans: 'Wife mystified by ref's decisions'
Crawley Town. Both managers had their say after Southend United's 1-0 win over Crawley Town in the JPT opening round Sturrock: 'Defence was really good, especially when we went down to 10 men' Blues boss Paul Sturrock is thrilled after Southend got swift revenge for their league defeat to Crawley with a 1-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy First round win, and this two weeks after the Shrimpers lost 3-0 to the Red Devils a fortnight ago. Liam Dickinson netted the only goal from the penalty spot in the first half before being sent off for a lunge on Kyle McFadzean after the break. Sturrock said: "I was delighted with the win because my players displayed fantastic attitude and work-rate against a strong side. The defence was really good, especially when we went down to 10 men, and it was good to get a clean sheet." And the sending-off, Luggy continued: "Liam did lunge in but as we are playing in this competition I thought the ref might have shown some common sense and booked him like he did with their player, but that did not happen. Liam was about to come off because he rolled his ankle over again but he will now miss three matches and we will use that time to get him fit." Evans: 'Was as good as we have played in six months - and we have lost' Meanwhile, Red Devils boss Steve Evans had mixed feelings and after blasting his side following their defeat at Cheltenham on Saturday, saw Matt Tubbs have an effort chalked off for offside and also felt they could have had more than one penalty. Evans said: "We are disappointed to have gone out because we have had five or six shouts for a penalty and none of them have been given and we have created plenty of other chances. I have been forbidden by my directors to talk about the referee - but my wife has just called me and said she was mystified by some of the decisions. I was critical of my players on Saturday but this was as good as we have played in six months - and we have lost."
