Akpan: It's too early to talk about promotion (From The Argus)

Akpan: It's too early to talk about promotion

10:00am Monday 22nd October 2012 in Sport

Hope Akpan insists Crawley cannot afford to start thinking about mounting a promotion push just yet.

Reds remain fourth in League One after picking up their fourth away win of the season at struggling Hartlepool United on Saturday.

Ritchie Barker's side could climb to second if they can secure a fifth win in six league games at home to MK Dons tomorrow.

That would further raise the prospect of a historic third consecutive promotion but Akpan – who sealed the points at Hartlepool with his fifth goal of the season - has warned Reds not to get distracted by dreaming of reaching the Championship next season. The former Everton midfielder said: “We knew this league was going to be tougher (than League Two) but we have started well and haven't looked out of place.

“We have won a few tough games. Hartlepool is a hard place to go to so to win the way we did is going to be a boost for everyone.

“We have had those sort of conversations (about promotion) but at this time we have got to take every game as it comes.

“There is a long way to go so we can't kid ourselves but hopefully we can keep winning and you never know where we might finish.”

Crawley's victory came at a price with Kyle McFadzean having to go off in the second half after being knocked unconscious in a collision with goalkeeper Paul Jones.

With Joe Walsh ruled out of the trip to Victoria Park with a hamstring injury and Shaun Cooper still sidelined with a groin problem it leaves Reds short of options at centre back for the visit of the Dons.

Barker said: “Kyle was unconscious for a while and was coughing up blood so it was a major concern for us.

“It seems to be a trend with our centre-backs at the moment. Joe pulled out of training last week and we had to rush Claude (Davis) back earlier than we hoped.

“Fingers crossed at least one of those three (Walsh, Davis, McFadzean) will be available tomorrow as we don't know how Claude will react to two games in four days.”