Crawley manager Steve Evans watched his side take a first half lead from the penalty spot but lose 2-1 to Cambridge United as the U's again came from behind to preserve the only unbeaten record in the Blue Square Premier.
"I think we threw the points away," he fumed afterwards. "We had at least six clear-cut chances in front of goal but we've had a consistency not to finish and we've got punished for it severely today. We have no options, there's not the money to sign the likes of Fortune-West, we don't have 50-60 grand a year players. So we have to persevere.
"I'm going to leave the referee out of this as I think it would be unfair as she hasn't affected the result. I couldn't see the penalty from where I was, but if she gives the penalty the defender must go off. If someone heads the ball on target from five yards it must be a goalscoring opportunity and you must send the offender off.
"I think she should've sent the boy off but she is no way to blame for the result today - the lack of ability to finish chances is what has cost us today. We were fairly comfortable for most of the first half and we had most of the play. They had 15 minutes at the start of the second half when they got the goals and defensively we could have done better with both of them, but we will learn and work on these things again.
"This isn't a downbeat Steve Evans, but we should've come here and got something today. I've got a lot of respect for Jimmy Quinn but if he sees anything else today, then his sunglasses must've been blacked out."
Speaking about Cambridge United and our prospects for this season, Evans commented, "Cambridge are a good side; I think it's reflective of the money the manager has got to spend. I know the Chairman here extremely well and they've put a sizeable budget in place.
"The game should've been dead and buried by half-time as we were the better team, but Leo Fortune-West gives them a big presence and in return for that he gets a big pay cheque and they got two goals through him. For all that, even in the second half I don't recall Cambridge missing too many chances but what does stick in my mind is the last ten minutes where we missed two really good opportunities.
"On another day it could have been 6-2 to Crawley and no-one would or could have complained. But the Abbey Stadium is a place I've always had an affection for. We are always treated properly by the staff and the supporters and we all wish them well, but I look forward to getting them down to Crawley and I'm sure we will have the opportunity to get our revenge."
Interview by David Gray
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