Manager Francis Vines saw Crawley go second in the Conference last night and insisted: "Let's make sure we stay there."

Reds jumped six places to move above Carlisle on goal difference after out-classing ten-man Tamworth at the Broadfield Stadium.

Victory ended a run of poor performances by the Reds and was a welcome tonic for Vines after his ordeal of being arrested by the police following a 2-0 defeat at play-off rivals Woking.

Vines said: "We don't have a game on Saturday so we are not going to be up there very long. But other teams have to win now and we have the chance against Morecambe on Monday to get back up.

"We did well and it was an improvement of the performances of the last four or five games but we can still do better.

"We gave the ball away too much which comes from being impatient. We tried to get forward too quickly instead of passing it.

"We are a good side if we get the ball on the deck but we are not if we rush things. Once we get that out of our game then I think we will produce a lot more."

Vines hailed the impact of striker Charlie MacDonald, who returned sooner than expected from a groin injury.

The former Charlton forward was obviously lacking match fitness following two weeks out but still managed to be involved in everything Crawley did going forward.

It was his run that saw the game swing in Reds' favour after 15 minutes when Tamworth were reduced to ten men.

Dave Bampton hauled MacDonald down on the edge of the box following a through ball by Paul Armstrong and, being the last man, the referee was left with no choice but to produce the red card.

Vines said: "We have missed Charlie and he did well. He got himself in a good position for the sending off, which I think was unfortunate but if the referee is going to give a foul then the guy had to go."

Reds had been on top before the dismissal and it was no surprise when they took just four minutes to make their numerical advantage count.

Defender Rob Watkins, playing the last game of a month's loan from Fulham, smashed home a volley from eight yards after Simon Wormull had mis-hit a shot from a Neil Jenkins corner.

It capped an impressive performance by Watkins, who was asked to play at leftback due to the suspensions of Sacha Opinel and Sean Hankin and the absence of Ryan Palmer, who became a father earlier in the day.

Reds killed Tamworth off with two goals in three minutes after the break. Jenkins headed home from close range on 72 minutes before Tait scored his 12th of the season with a superb chip from the angle of the area.

With the win assured, Vines gave Sami El-Abd his debut in the closing stages.

Crawley have failed in their appeal against Sacha Opinel's red card in Saturday's defeat at Woking. The French fullback will miss the next three games.