Video: Boss expecting tough 90 minutes
John Gregory is under no illusions about the task facing Reds at sixth-placed Rotherham on Saturday.
But the boss insists his players are relishing the club's first visit to the New York Stadium.
JG was in the crowd at the Greenhous Meadow last Saturday to see the Millers race into a 3-0 lead after 21 minutes against Shrewsbury on their way to a second successive league win.
He said: “Rotherham were very impressive. You know what you are going to get with Steve’s teams – they play with passion and at a high tempo and Steve demands that they do it from first whistle to the last - they start games extremely well.
“So it is going to be tough, just like Coventry was a fortnight ago. But we got a result there and the lads can’t wait for Saturday to come round. They are champing at the bit. We haven’t played for two weeks so two games in four days, with Port Vale to come on Tuesday, is just what we’re looking for."
JG was QPR boss when he encountered his opposite number on Saturday for the only time in his managerial career. “Steve brought a Crawley team to the training ground to play the reserves and we had a long chat. He’s very passionate about the game and being successful and he’s done a good job at Rotherham, getting them promoted in his first season.”
John confirmed that new signing Gary Dicker will be in the squad that travelled to South Yorkshire this morning to train ahead of the game. Billy Clarke is available after serving his three-match ban which means only Dannie Bulman is sidelined as he recovers from his fractured cheekbone.
With each passing transfer window the number of players who played under Steve Evans during his successful spell as Crawley boss is diminishing but there are still seven members of the squad who have worked with Evans at the club in our squad on Saturday.
“I’m sure Steve will greet each and every single one of them warmly but then it will be down to business,” added JG. “But those lads will want to perform in front of their old manager for Crawley Town, their team-mates and themselves.
“It’s the start of a busy period for us. We have eight games scheduled between now and the end of February, weather permitting. They are all important but if we can get the run off to a good start on Saturday it will put us in good heart for another tough one on Tuesday up at Port Vale.”
clicking here.Watch John Gregory on Saturday's game and his thoughts on the arrival of Gary Dicker by
