Crawley Town boss Mark Yates admits it may take time for his young defence to find the consistency that is required in League Two.

Reds fielded a back five – including goalkeeper Freddie Woodman – with an average age under 20 in their 3-0 win over Newport County on Tuesday.

Skipper Sonny Bradley was the oldest at 24 while Woodman, Christian Scales and Liam Donnelly are all still in their teens and new signing Josh Yorwerth is 20.

The quintet kept a fourth clean sheet of the season – having conceded 12 goals in their previous four games – but will be tested by an in-form Plymouth side today.

Yates said: "We tried to get more experienced players in but we weren't able to do that so I've got no problem with giving youngsters a go.

"Christian and Liam are learning as they go along and we knew that would be the case. Liam took a bit of time out of the team last week but I thought his last two performances have been a real improvement.

"That is what happens with younger players but they are good players and will come out of it stronger for the experience."

Yates is likely to name the same starting XI that ended a four-game losing streak at Newport against a Plymouth side who are second in the table having reached the play-offs last year.

"They are on a good run but we will go there with a lot more hope than we did after last home game," added Yates. "We've got a bit of extra belief now which I think is what has been missing."

Josh Simpson is set to face Crawley for the first time since turning down a new deal in the summer to move to Plymouth in a midfield which also features ex-Reds loanee Hiram Boateng.

Reds welcome back Luke Rooney from suspension but are still without Jon Ashton, Joe McNerney, Gavin Tomlin and Lanre Oyebanjo through injury.