First team coach Guy Whittingham admitted there were fringe benefits to Crawley’s false start to 2014.

The Reds were left frustrated when their League One clash away to Swindon Town was called off yesterday following a 1pm pitch inspection.

Swindon had earlier said the game was not in doubt but with heavy rain falling and no sign of the weather improving referee Steven Rushton decided the game could not go ahead.

Crawley were hoping to build on an impressive performance in beating Notts County 1-0 last Sunday.

Their focus will now switch to a second attempt to play their FA Cup second round replay with Bristol Rovers at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on Saturday when a third round trip to Birmingham awaits the winners.

Whittingham told The Argus: “It is a little frustrating because you want the game to be on but it is understandable and there is no point getting up about it because it is what it is.

“One silver lining with the Bristol Rovers game (at home to Cheltenham) being off as well we are both going to be facing each other as fresh as each other when we play on Saturday.”

Whittingham is pleased with the progress made since he and manager John Gregory came in last month.

He added: “You come in and hope to try to change things a little bit.

“What the manager has done is brought a freshness and a confidence to the team.”

Rushton said after calling the game off: “There is heavy water lying on the pitch and the forecast is for more rain therefore there will be no improvement in conditions. “Player safety would be the main concern.”