Crawley manager Francis Vines today told his players he is fed up with giving them the hair-dryer treatment.

Vines believes he has given too many half-time rollickings this season to motivate his side into performing.

The statistics back him up. Crawley have gone behind in 15 of their 32 games and all of those goals have come in the first half.

Crawley lie 14th in the table based on first-half results and are fifth on their form after the break.

Three of Reds' last four victories have come after going a goal down, including games against lower league clubs Worthing and Hailsham.

Vines reckons the players have to take responsibility for their poor start to games and has urged them to get off to a flyer in tomorrow's FA Trophy fourth round tie at Cambridge City.

He said: "We have not been performing in the first half and you have to look at how the players gee themselves up.

"They seem to be struggling to motivate themselves before games and I have to have a go at them at half time.

"It must get boring for them because they have heard all the swear words before. I'm bored of having to do it but, at the moment, it is having an effect.

"It is something we need to change because we can't keep going behind and hopefully we can play well from the off against Cambridge."

Reds, who have never reached this stage in the 36-year history of the Trophy, will earn £5,000 if they beat Cambridge, who lie second in Conference south.

Vines wants the money to strengthen his squad and believes success at Milton Road can also help Reds maintain their good form in the Conference.

Crawley have lost once in their last seven league games, earning Vines the manager-of-the-month award for January.

Vines said: "We saw last season that winning is a habit. If you are on a roll it is important to keep it up no matter who you are playing or what competition you are playing in. There is also the money side of things. I want the club to have as much as possible and the Trophy is a good way to earn extra funds, so we are going all out to win."

Meanwhile, striker Charlie MacDonald has spoken of his relief after being told he will only miss two weeks through injury.

MacDonald saw a consultant this week after suffering a recurrence of a groin problem during last Saturday's 2-1 win over Canvey Island.

The former Charlton forward has been troubled by the injury since having summer surgery. He was ruled out for ten weeks earlier in the season and has been playing in constant pain since returning in December.

MacDonald will have a pain-killing injection on Tuesday and believes he could be back for Crawley's live TV home game against Morecambe on February 21.

He said: "I have been told I can't do any kind of physical activity for ten days after the injection but after that I should be okay. There should not be any more pain and it will also help with the healing process. It is such a relief to hear that because this injury has been so frustrating.

"I have been here, there and everywhere to find out what the matter is but no one knows. Hopefully, it will be the end of it after this and then I can concentrate on getting a run in the side."

Vines has cooled his interest in signing Havant striker Gavin Holligan as cover for MacDonald.

Holligan, who scored four goals in six games during a month's loan for Reds last season, has told Vines he wants to return.

Defender Matt Langston, who grew up in Lewes, will start for Cambridge.