Evans says cup exit bittersweet

Crawley boss Steve Evans had mixed feelings after his side lost their first Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie 1-0 at Southend.

Liam Dickinson netted the only goal from the penalty spot in the first half before being sent off for a lunge on Kyle McFadzean after the break. But Evans, who blasted his side following their defeat at Cheltenham on Saturday, saw Matt Tubbs have an effort chalked off for offside and also felt they could have had more than one penalty. "We are disappointed to have gone out because we have had five or six shouts for a penalty and none of them have been given and we have created plenty of other chances," he said. "I have been forbidden by my directors to talk about the referee - but my wife has just called me and said she was mystified by some of the decisions. "I was critical of my players on Saturday but this was as good as we have played in six months - and we have lost."