Crawley boss delivers Covid update ahead of FA Cup clash v Leeds as first fixture bites dust
With worries over Covid looming large ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup fixtures, Crawley Town boss John Yems has moved to reassure Leeds United that the game on Sunday will go ahead.
Talking in his pre-match press conference, Yems said, “Everyone has been tested today and we’re ready to go for the weekend.”
Yems was quoted by journalist Tom Mason on his personal Twitter account.
The issue of Covid outside of the Premier League bubble is a big one at the moment after the game between Southampton and Shrewsbury was called off after an outbreak in the lower league side’s camp.
Derby’s training ground has also been closed this week.
No fans is tragic
Yems also bemoaned the lack of fans at the game for what he called the “biggest team” to come to Crawley.
The consolation is that the game is being televised live on the BBC with a 1.30pm kick-off on Sunday.
Leeds fans can sympathise with Yems and the Crawley supporters ahead of the FA Cup tie on Sunday.
It’s a massive game for them and watching on TV won’t be the same as the atmosphere of a third-round FA Cup tie against Premier League opposition at home.
The lack of fans will help Leeds, although we still have to navigate an unfamiliar pitch and small stadium for the game.
Leeds have history here, too, after losing to Sutton in the FA Cup in 2017, in a game where Liam Cooper was sent off.
We’re hoping for a much easier game this time around, with speculation as to what sort of team Marcelo Bielsa is going to put out.
We should get more of a clue in his pre-match press conference tomorrow.
As far as the Covid tests go, we’ll admit that we’re concerned about the risk to the Leeds players with lower league sides not getting regularly tested.
We know from what’s happened recently with Man City that tests that are done today don’t necessarily rule out any of the Crawley players from being infected.
A win would be great on Sunday. But keeping all the Leeds players safe is even more important.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Worth millions’ – Potential striker transfer may deliver Leeds boost for Crawley clash – report