Johnny Phillips: Scott Lindsey will make most of his Wembley chance

Crawley’s 8-1 aggregate victory against MK Dons was the biggest winning margin in any EFL play-off semi-final.

In the other semi-final, Crewe Alexandra overturned a two-goal deficit after their first leg to progress, beating Doncaster 2-0 away from home in the second leg before winning the tie on penalties.

Lindsey was appointed on January 11 last year with the club staring relegation from League Two in the face.

His predecessor, Matthew Etherington, had lasted just 34 days in a job which had become a poisoned chalice. Prior to that Kevin Betsy had overseen a poor start to the season, and the club was in turmoil.

One national newspaper described the situation as “a shambles”.

Lindsey found a club on its knees filled with what he described as “loose professionals”. It took him a month just to get all the players to turn up for training on time. He eventually led Crawley to 22nd in that first season before the revolution began.

Assisted by Jamie Day, Carl Laraman and Steve Hale, and with the help of a unique team of analysts supporting the owners, a host of new players were brought in last summer to begin the transformation.

The style of football is nothing short of sensational.

Lindsey admits that his players don’t always get it right, but when they do the results are impressive.

A 51-pass move which almost resulted in a goal at Stadium MK last week perfectly illustrated the pass-and-move style which Lindsey has brought to the club.

The 52-year-old grew up in a professional environment.

Dad Keith played for Scunthorpe United, Doncaster, Southend United, Port Vale and Gillingham between 1964-75.

A nomadic childhood came with that footballing life, and it was the great Liverpool team of the late Seventies and Eighties that got Lindsey hooked on the game.

Little wonder that his Crawley side is very much in the mould of that Reds team of Dalglish, Rush, Souness, Kennedy, Hansen and Co.

Two of Crawley’s best players this season have been striker Danilo Orsi and goalkeeper Corey Addai.

Orsi is Crawley’s top goalscorer with 24 goals and was also named club’s player of the season.

His hat-trick in the second leg of the semi-final against MK Dons will have made plenty of onlookers take note.

Despite being 28, this is only Orsi’s third EFL season. He spent most of his career playing in non-league and US college football.

His 24 goals this season is the most a Red Devils player has scored for the club in any of their EFL seasons since they first won promotion from the non-league ranks in 2011.

Despite that hat-trick, it was Liam Kelly who won player of the match in the second leg.

The industrious midfielder is the heartbeat of this side and he will have a key role to play against Crewe on Sunday.

At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Addai has also been in fine form.

Only Wrexham’s Arthur Okonkwo had a higher save ratio than Addai in League Two this season.

He is another with plenty of non-league experience, before a spell with Danish outfit Esbjerg FB preceded his arrival at the Broadfield Stadium.

Lindsey has spent most of his coaching career in non-league and is well aware that this is a fantastic opportunity to make his mark.

His life has been touched with tragedy outside football.

Wife Hayley died aged 44 from kidney cancer back in November 2019. He also lost older brother Mike in a motorbike accident in 1995.

Such experiences have driven a “one chance” mentality that he brings to life.

His playing squad, many of whom share a similar non-league background, have taken the ethos to heart.

They know that there may never be another shot at this type of success again.

History has been made with this first Wembley visit.

What better way to cap off a remarkable season than achieving promotion at the national stadium?