Chapter 130: Build-Up Without Breakthrough

Chapter 130: Build-Up Without Breakthrough Chapter 130: Build-Up Without Breakthrough Saturday, August 28, 2010 Location: Meadow Lane, Notts County Saturday morning was tense after a week of cautious hope. As Crawley’s team bus arrived at Meadow Lane in Nottingham, the air was damp, and nerves were already setting in. Niels stepped off the bus, his boots crunching on the gravel. A tight knot of focus settled in his chest. Today’s match was a chance to build on the spark from the Preston win, but the pressure was growing, two draws in three games had stalled their momentum. As he looked toward the stadium, memories surfaced: the 2-1 loss last season, then the wild 4-3 win here. Notts County had always been a tough fight. Now, they needed more than just effort, they needed a result. The media had cooled. Crawley’s local paper, once hopeful, now sounded a warning: "Crawley need wins, not grit, to survive League One." It was a quiet jab, echoing a pundit’s recent dig about their "lucky win." Niels could feel the pressure creeping in. The team was hungry, but still unproven. The stands at Meadow Lane were filling up, black and white scarves waving under a gray sky. The home fans’ chants rumbled steadily. Niels led the squad into the cramped away dressing room walls scuffed, air thick with liniment and memories of past battles. Max, Pogba, Freeman, Thiago, Dev, Nate Sutton, and the rest dropped their bags, their faces showing a mix of focus and unease. The tension from the week hadn’t faded. Thiago attempted to break the tension, juggling a ball with a faint smile. "Let’s take control out there." But his energy felt restrained, like a fire struggling to ignite. Pogba, more composed since the Preston win, quietly taped his wrists. "We need to stay sharp and no mistakes." Max tightened his captain’s armband and nodded firmly. "We know what to do. Stick to the plan." Freeman, as silent as ever, adjusted his boots, his eyes fixed ahead, his calm intensity steady and unshaken. Kieron, now a regular substitute, leaned against a locker, his hunger tempered but fierce. He caught Emma’s eye, his voice low. "I’m ready to shift this, Emma." She nodded, her tone steady. "You’ll get your moment, Kieron. Trust Niels." Kieron exhaled, his resolve a quiet flame, picturing himself turning the game. The warmups carried a heavy tension not loud, but deep, weighing down the players’ legs like lead. Niels stood at the touchline, rain dotting his jacket, his eyes sharp and focused. Passes were short and cautious, missing any real intent to push forward. Pogba’s touches were clean but safe, Nate’s runs hesitant, Freeman’s movements restrained. Max called for the ball, but the team’s rhythm was off like a band struggling to find its beat. Niels quickly wrote on his clipboard: ’Push forward. Take risks’. He called out, "Lads, stretch the play! Open up!" But the team stayed tight, their confidence fragile after a week of mixed results. Thomas stood beside him, quietly saying, "They’re feeling the pressure." Niels nodded, jaw clenched, knowing Notts County would punish any hesitation. The whistle blew, and Meadow Lane roared as Crawley took the pitch in their red kits, the 4-2-3-1 set. The rain had stopped, but the pitch was slick, the air thick with anticipation. Kickoff: Crawley began aggressively, controlling possession and maintaining a compact shape that frustrated Notts County’s attempts to break through. Pogba showed moments of brilliance, using his long strides to bypass the press and deliver precise passes to Freeman in tight spaces. Freeman navigated between defenders with sharp touches, but their attacks lacked real threat in the final third. Meanwhile, Nate faced close marking from a tenacious midfielder, forcing him into hurried passes and limiting his impact. In the 18th minute, a chance opened up. Max dropped deep, drawing a defender with him, and played a cutback to Freeman, who surged into the box. With the keeper closing down the angle, Freeman’s shot slid just wide, grazing the post. The away fans groaned, their chants faltering. From the touchline, Niels urged, "Good movement! Keep the pressure!" But the missed shot exposed their inefficiency in the final third, the lack of clinical finishing that was costing them. Thiago was a constant threat, his sharp runs stretching Notts County’s right-back, forcing fouls and creating quick counter opportunities. In the 35th minute, he threaded a precise pass to Dev, who cut inside but lacked space and fired wide into the side netting. The crowd’s energy dipped, the score still locked at nil. Meanwhile, Max, isolated up front and starved of quality service, fought to create chances but grew frustrated, his mistimed challenge drawing a caution from the referee. The intensity remained high, but chances grew scarce as both teams tightened up. Notts County pressed harder, forcing Crawley back into a cautious shape. Niels glanced at his watch as the referee’s whistle blew, signaling the end of the first half. The score remained 0-0, a tense stalemate hanging in the air. The second half continued much the same, Crawley kept control of the ball but struggled to create real chances. Pogba took more risks, sending a long ball to Thiago, who outran his marker but delivered a cross that went too deep. In the 70th minute, Niels brought Kieron on for Dev, injecting fresh energy. Kieron pressed hard, winning a loose ball and setting up Max, whose header was pushed over by the keeper. The resulting corner failed to produce a goal, leaving the crowd’s hope hanging by a thread. In the 85th minute, Pogba found Kieron with a late, looping pass as he burst into the box. Kieron’s shot clipped the side netting, the net rippled, but no goal. The away fans groaned, the chance a reflection of Crawley’s night: close but not enough. Notts County pushed back in stoppage time, but Fletcher stayed alert, clawing away a low drive with steady hands. The whistle blew, ending in a 0–0 draw. Meadow Lane’s roar was muted; the away fans applauded, but their chants were faint. The squad walked off the pitch, tired and covered in mud. They had earned a point, but it felt like a loss. Max clapped for the fans, his face serious but determined. Thiago kicked the ground, his usual energy gone. Freeman stayed quiet, thinking over his missed chance, his jaw tight with frustration. The media was quick to react. Sunday’s local paper ran a blunt headline: "Crawley Struggle to Break Through in League One." A radio pundit added, "Four games played: one win, two draws, one loss. Niels’s team still lack the killer instinct maybe still resting on last season’s glory." The glow from the Preston win was fading quickly, and pressure was creeping back. Online, fans were split, some applauded the team’s effort, while others grumbled, "Effort’s not enough. We need goals." In the locker room, the atmosphere was heavy. The squad sat slumped on the benches, breathing hard. Niels stood quietly, his voice low but firm. "We controlled the game, but we didn’t finish. That’s on us. We’re building, but we need more, more sharpness, more belief." He paused, looking around the room. "This isn’t a step back. It’s a lesson. We keep going." Emma, packing up her kit bag, caught Niels outside. Her voice was soft but firm. "Draws turn into pressure, Niels. They don’t protect you." He nodded, jaw clenched, taking in her words. "We’ll find the edge, Emma. We have to." She smiled softly, her faith a steady light in the uncertainty. Pogba sat alone in the dressing room, boots untied, staring at the floor. Frustration weighed on his slumped shoulders not from defeat, but from a burning need to do more. Sensing this, Kieron sat beside him silently, offering quiet support. After a pause, Pogba muttered, "We’re close, mate. Just need to click." Kieron nodded, eyes sharp. "We will." Niels stepped out to the bus as rain began to fall, soaking his jacket and clipboard. He opened his laptop and reviewed Freeman’s missed chance, his mind analyzing the team’s struggles in the final third. The draw stung, but it also fueled their resolve. Notts County was a lesson learned, but with Swindon and Plymouth ahead, the season’s road was long not lost. Niels took a deep breath, steadying himself against the cold rain. He knew the team’s spirit was fragile but unbroken. Every training session, every tactic tweak, every moment on the pitch was another chance to sharpen their edge. The players needed to believe, not just in their skill, but in each other. As the bus rumbled to life, Niels glanced back at the fading lights of Meadow Lane. This was just the beginning. The fight wasn’t over. It was time to regroup, refocus, and push harder. The next match was waiting and so was the chance to prove they belonged in League One.