Crawley boss Mark Yates: Dagenham will be fully focussed

They won’t be distracted by their FA Cup replay back in Sussex four days later against Whitehawk when the prize for the winner will be Premier League Everton in a Third Round tie at Goodison Park.

He said: “We’ve been trying to get back to where we were. We’re at home and want to be playing on the front-foot, and haven’t been allowed to in the last couple of games.

“Sure, Dagenham have a big game next week but the next game is always the most important, that’s the motto we work to.

“I know Wayne Burnett personally, he’s a good manager and I know they won’t be focussed on anything other than getting three points.

“We’ve used it as a time where we can get some teamwork and some physical work into the players. We need a high-energy tempo, playing on the front-foot performance.

“We are here trying to get back on track after two defeats. We would have liked a game on the following Sunday after Carlisle, never mind waiting for two weeks.

“I’m hoping the lads are champing at the bit and I’m sure they will be.”

Yates felt the behind-closed-doors friendly they played last week against Crystal Palace served as useful preparation.

“We gave them a good game and it came as good timing and on a good surface. It was all about getting game-time into our players ahead of Dagenham.”

Yates reports just one absentee for Saturday other than the long-term injury victims, midfielder Simon Walton, who will be serving a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards.

“It gives someone else an opportunity. Simon’s got to hope we win but not too well so he gets his place back.

“We’ve got players like Luke Rooney, Ross Jenkins waiting in the wings. One of them will get a chance and I’m looking forward to seeing him play.

“All the players are doing really well in training. I don’t think there will be too many changes. We’ll have our game-plan but also be thinking about our options off the bench.

“It’s not the end of the World. We’ve lost a couple of games, dropped down a place or two. We were disappointed with that game at Carlisle but have worked extremely hard to put things right for Saturday.”

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