Bottom side Crawley have 'grown up' in break says Orsi

Crawley Town striker Dan Orsi believes the side have "done a bit of growing up" in the three-week international break. The Reds are bottom of League Two with one win in their opening seven matches, but have not played a league fixture since September 19. Colin Kazim-Richards' team did play twice in the EFL Trophy in that time, losing 4-1 at League One MK Dons before an impressive 4-0 home win over Bromley. Orsi told BBC Radio Sussex: "We just had some real honest meetings in this break and went back to basics on the training ground, working hard and doing the simple things before trying to do the other stuff. "We've done a bit of growing up over the international break as well, and I really am looking forward to Saturday's game against Chesterfield now." Former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone, 38, arrived as player-coach in the summer, and made just his fourth appearance in the Bromley win. Orsi said Mannone's experience would help guide the young squad through "big moments" in games. "That's where we've let ourselves down as a group at times, conceding just before half-time through a lack of concentration," he said. "It's just a bit of naivety at times. It's not the sort of thing you can coach, when individual players just need to think and see danger quicker." Crawley secured their place in the football league on the final day of the 2025-26 season, finishing 22nd. Reds chief executive Tom Allman acknowledged their poor start to the current campaign to the BBC earlier this week, but backed the squad to turn it around. Orsi asked the fans to have patience and faith in the management and players. "I completely get it. I'm a football fan as well. Obviously when results aren't going your way you are going to be negative about it," he said. "The optimism at the start of the season, everyone expects to be doing something in the season, otherwise what are you really playing for and working towards? "We've used the break well. I'm just hoping everyone can use it as a fresh start and get behind us, and really get together again like I know this club can do." All the latest Crawley Town news