Drummy to '˜live and die' by philosophy in changes hint

Action from Crawley Town's 3-1 League Two defeat at home to Cambridge United on Saturday. Picture by Jack Beard

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Dermot Drummy has hinted he will replace players that can't handle his passing style as he reiterated he will '˜live and die' by his way of playing.

Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Cambridge United was not pretty – it was Reds most disappointing defeat of the season in terms of an overall poor display.

A fairly-ordinary visiting side under Shaun Derry eased to a comfortable victory, while Reds looked uncharacteristically flat in attack.

The Reds’ head coach, while refusing any knee-jerk reactions after what was just their second home League Two defeat of the season, has hinted that his side will continue to strive to play the right way and they must be equipped to do that.

Drummy said: “We have to regroup and in adversity you realise that you have to stay strong, you can’t lose your head and start ranting and raving.

“I will have to instil into the players the belief that over the course of the season, we will succeed.

“It’s tough. One goal was conceded by a poor clearance, not by trying to pass out. It’s that fine line of when teams do press you, when to go in behind, or, do we have players to play that game?

“The tough thing is when players aren’t on top of their game or can’t cope with playing out, you have to either improve the player or change the player for the system that you want.

“That doesn’t happen overnight or you go a bit more direct or long.