Evans tells truth: 'If we draw or lose a game it's scenes of jubilation around the country'

 

Tigers boss Nick Barmby was incensed over a second half incident which saw Evans' assistant Paul Raynor sent to the stands, with the Tigers boss accusing Crawley backroom staff of "trying to get my players sent off".

 

Evans retorted: "I think he's grabbing at straws and he shouldn't say these things. Nick Barmby is an altar boy, is he? I don't think so. He's lost the game because we've come here and outplayed his team."

 

Crawley dominated the KC Stadium clash from start to finish with new Arsenal, and former Shrimpers, loanee Sanchez Watt coming close to increasing the underdogs' margin of victory, which according to Evans should have been greater.

 

Evans added:"I think we were unlucky not to win by four or five. We came here with three strikers and aiming to be very attack-minded. I think if we had got a second, it would have been embarrassing for Hull."

 

Hot-shot Tubbs struck the winner when he raced onto a through-ball from Sergio Torres on the left flank and cut inside, keeping his cool admirably to squeeze the winner under Hull keeper Vito Mannone.

 

Barmby, who had made seven changes to his side that won at Reading last week, paid tribute to the Crawley players, admitting: "I'm disappointed but we were beaten by the better team. You've got to get your head down in these games and realise you're in for a battle and we didn't do that today. We had four shots on target which is not like us at all but Crawley were a strong side. We're out of all the cup competitions now so there's no distractions for us now and we cannot have any excuses. Between now and the end of the season we'll be giving it our best shot."

 

Evans watched his side wrest control from the start with Tubbs aiming an overhead kick just over the bar then coming close to connecting with a Tyrone Barnett cross only to be denied by a superb interception from Joe Dudgeon.

 

It took Barmby's men 39 minutes to get a shot on target with Tom Cairney bringing a save out of Scott Shearer, and the keeper had to be alert to save a low Robbie Brady drive moments later.

 

Pablo Mills forced a save out of Mannone early in the second half as Crawley re-imposed control, and they were seldom threatened after Tubbs' opener although Richard Garcia forced a fingertip save out of Shearer moments later.

 

Crawley should have extended their lead in the 75th minute when Watt brought a point-blank save out of Mannone and from the resulting corner the same player somehow hit the outside of the post with the goal at his mercy.

 

Evans admitted he was dreaming of pitting his wits against Kenny Dalglish in the fifth round draw, but insisted his side would always be unfashionable giant-killers due to their lower-league financial clout.

 

Evans added: "We've broken every record in non-league football and we went into the game sitting joint top of League Two. Nothing changes - if we draw or lose a game it's scenes of jubilation around the country. We've just got to keep doing our job. Being a Celtic man I would love to meet Kenny but we are just pleased to be in the draw. We won't get carried away but we'd like a big club, preferably at home."

 

Southend United play Crawley Town in the next biggest game of the season after the first one against Di Canio's Swindon on Tuesday, both at Roots Hall, on Monday, March 5th in front of the Sky Sports cameras live to the nation!