Bulman: Our biggest match ever (From The Argus)

Bulman: Our biggest match ever

9:00am Saturday 5th May 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Skipper Dannie Bulman has labelled today’s promotion decider at Accrington Stanley as the biggest game in Crawley’s history.

Reds head to the Crown Ground knowing victory would guarantee their place in League One next season but that anything less would almost certainly leave them relying on the play-offs.

Bulman has experienced some massive games during his five seasons at Broadfield Stadium – including the famous FA Cup fifth round clash with Manchester United last season – but insists nothing compares to the one that confronts them tomorrow.

The midfielder said: “It is definitely the biggest game in the club’s history as the club is looking to push on. The Manchester United game was just a one-off with nothing on the end of it as nobody expected us to win.

“I know Sue Carter (Crawley’s co-owner) has been in the paper saying it is not the be all and end all but for the players we want to go up. We want to play at highest level and don’t want nine months of work to count for nothing.”

Reds have a full squad to choose from, with the exception of the suspended Hope Akpan, today but caretaker boss Craig Brewster may make changes from the side which lost 3-0 at home to Hereford last Saturday with Pablo Mills, Scott Shearer and David Hunt all pushing for a starting role after playing in the reserves on Tuesday.

A draw would be enough to clinch third place if Southend United and Torquay United both fail to win but Bulman believes that Crawley must approach the game with the mindset that only a win will do.

He added: “We expect Southend to win because Macclesfield are already down. You never know but if we get three points then it won’t even come into it.

“It’s in our hands so let’s win and eliminates all the others. I don’t think it would do us any good to start looking out for other scores as we know that if we win it is party time.

“We are buzzing for it. These kind of games don’t come around too often in a career so you’ve got to be looking forward to it.

“We could be waiting for a mediocre last game where there is nothing on it and it almost feels like a friendly game. Instead we are one game away from winning promotion and that is the way you want it to be.”