Eastleigh manager Matt Gray expressed frustration after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Crawley Town in their final home pre-season friendly, calling the performance 'nowhere near' expectations. The Spitfires, who finished 17th in the National League last season with 50 points (13W-11D-22L), are preparing for the new campaign with a 2-game winning run (WWDDL) but struggled against League Two opposition.
What went wrong in the friendly?
Gray was scathing in his assessment, describing the match as 'very poor' and lacking the tempo, energy, and aggression he demands. Despite recent encouraging displays against Southampton and Valenciennes, the Eastleigh boss felt his team failed to live up to standards, particularly in their attacking play. 'I like to be on the front foot, aggressive, and hard to play against,' he said, adding that none of those qualities were evident against Crawley.
Why is Gray pushing for signings?
With the transfer window still open, Gray emphasized the need for reinforcements, stating, 'I’m grafting with others to get players in, which I desperately need.' He noted that key players were absent, and the squad is still missing four or five potential signings. While he praised the youth team players who stepped up, he insisted the first team must improve before the season opener.
What’s next for Eastleigh?
Eastleigh has two more pre-season tests before their National League campaign begins. Gray remains optimistic, highlighting that he has two weeks to address the issues. The Spitfires will aim to build on their recent form, which includes a 1-0 win over Scunthorpe in their last competitive match (2026-04-25), as they look to climb the table after finishing 58 points behind leaders York last season.
