Scott Lindsey: How my Crawley team won a record-breaking promotion

When Scott Lindsey guided Crawley Town to League One promotion in 2024, he oversaw a record EFL playoff aggregate victory. That was impressive enough, but the style in which his team beat MK Dons 8-1, then won at Wembley against favourites Crewe Alexandra, was very special indeed.

That they did so with a team containing several players signed on free transfers from non-league was a testament to Lindsey and his coaching staff, who had overseen a major turnaround at the club. Having taken the reins at Crawley in January 2023 with the club 21st in League Two, he kept them up, then set about rebuilding the team and implementing a style of play that would not look out of place in the higher echelons of English football.

In this Coaches’ Voice exclusive Masterclass, Lindsey reveals the bold but effective tactics he employed in the playoff semi finals against MK Dons. Using the iconic CV tactics board, he explains the aggressive out-of-possession approach that underpinned Crawley’s stunning semi final victories, as well as the attacking patterns that produced 3-0 and 5-1 wins across the two-legged tie.

He then goes on to discuss the tactical tweaks that allowed Crawley to stick to their principles against Crewe in the final, while making necessary adjustments to combat a different type of opposition. Tactics that ultimately helped his team record a 2-0 win at Wembley to clinch a promotion that, while against the odds, was fully deserved.

Author: Craig Bloomfield