On Sunday afternoon, Crawley Town confirmed their promotion to the third tier with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra in their Play-Off final.
The Reds have already soaked in the celebrations at Wembley, and will host a ‘promotion party‘ at Broadfield Stadium this evening. A crowd of 33,341 spectated the thrilling showdown, and with a clear domination of physicality and superior passing play, the West Sussex side deservedly triumphed.
❤️ REDS ARE GOING UP OLE OLE!#TownTeamTogether🔴 pic.twitter.com/rGZwLjoZiU
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) May 19, 2024
After being tipped to really struggle in League Two this season, a surreal moment for the Reds has encapsulated the magic of the EFL. A seventh-placed finish just about snuck Crawley inside the play-off spots. Scott Lindsey’s men proved exactly why they had clawed their way in, by defeating MK Dons 3-0 in the first leg, before demolishing the favourites 5-1 in their own back yard.
The final offered a huge platform for the Town players to step up. It was none other than Danilo Orsi who scored a phenomenal solo effort, twisting and turning inside Crewe’s penalty area. This 42nd minute of brilliance culminated in an outside of the boot finish with his right foot, leaving Max Stryjek with no chance.
A great finish by Danilo Orsi to put his side ahead!
Can Crawley hold on in the second half?🤔
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) May 19, 2024
A VAR scare in the 52nd minute overturned a wrongfully given penalty in Crewe’s favour. Corey Addai initially looked to have fouled Chris Long, but his crucial intervention to stop the Alexandra number seven from rounding him, epitomised his quality decision-making and importance to the club.
The game was all but wrapped up in the 85th minute as Liam Kelly sealed the 2-0 victory late on. Kelly has been among Crawley’s key performers this season alongside the likes of Orsi, Klaidi Lolos, Addai, and Will Wright, etc.
Who will be Crawley Town’s vital players next season?
The necessity of guarding their most important assets this summer cannot be understated from Crawley’s perspective. Having scored 19 goals in the regular league season, Orsi could likely see himself in-demand, with clubs looking for players with a cutting edge ahead of the upcoming campaign. However, at 28, Orsi isn’t exactly an upcoming prospect and may not warrant a life-changing offer for his services. This could be perfect for the Southern English side.
The former Harrogate Town striker hasn’t stepped foot in League One, and therefore should reward the West Sussex club for putting their faith in him by being their frontman once again. The 28-year-old’s ability on the ball and his vision to make runs that defenders struggle to track, makes him a key cog in Lindsey’s system.
Lolos has also emerged as a superstar for Crawley, with five goals in seven matches prior to the play-offs. His technical ability and willingness to drive at the defence, has made the 22-year-old nearly impossible to keep out.
Kelly has now played 45 times for the Reds, and his impact from midfield could be important next season if the side want to give it a real go in the third division. With clubs like Oxford United, Feyenoord, and Reading on the Irish midfielder’s CV, this necessary footballing experience will be crucial.
HAD BETTER MONDAYS🤥❤️ @DaniloOrsi pic.twitter.com/buoomQQhkf
— LK (@L_Kelly95) May 20, 2024
Possibly the most important area for Crawley to enhance and ‘gate-keep’ next season is their solid defence. Harry Maguire’s brother Laurence has stepped up to the mantle this season; the 27-year-old will surely snap up any opportunity to establish himself as a League One defender following his loan move from recently-promoted Chesterfield Town.
Will Wright has also been a revelation from centre-back since adopting this new position. His attacking threat appears unmatched, compared to any others in the fourth tier. The eight assists and four goals that the 26-year-old has accumulated this season are astounding numbers for a central defender.
How will Crawley Town fair in League One?
Next year’s instalment of the third division looks set to be a ‘blockbuster’. EFL giants Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town, have slipped down to League One and will be prepared to go head-to-head for promotion with exciting newcomers Wrexham, and third-tier specialists Peterbrough United and Bolton Wanderers. With many teams such as Lincoln City and Wigan Athletic coming into form by the end of this campaign, Crawley could face a very difficult term.
However, the Reds could prove to be the welcoming surprise the league needs. If they manage to keep hold of their key stars and deter growing interest for Addai in particular, they could set themselves in good stead to focus the attention on bolstering their lesser-quality positions.
A busy summer should be undoubtedly on the cards for Lindsey’s side – who took charge at the club in January 2023. The 52-year-old has instilled a philosophy of intricate passing movements when in possession, and has so far reaped the rewards. Lindsey is a very capable manager who has flipped a relegation-battling side into a promoted one in the matter of a season.
To conclude, the combination of a talented manager, and an impressive squad, means Crawley could be the surprise deal. A ninth-placed finish, with a dip in form towards the middle and a late surge for play-offs, offers a bold but promisingly likely outcome for Lindsey’s side.
Predicted league finish: 9th place
