Crawley manager Scott Lindsey says it is tough to throw his latest loan signing from Albion into a relegation battle, writes Nick Park.

Jack Spong was on the bench as Reds eased fears with a 2-0 win over Rochdale in League Two on Saturday.

The midfielder has had two brief outings as a substitute since making the mid-season move from the Seagulls.

Lindsey said: “Jack’s a really good footballer.

“The environment that we’re in at the moment is that we’re in a relegation battle.

“He is a young player that has not played a lot of, actually played no league football until he came here.

“So he has been on the pitch twice. At the moment it is very difficult because of the situation we find ourselves in.”

Spong made his debut away to Leyton Orient, whose team included on-loan Albion defender Ed Turns.

He has also played briefly against Harrogate.

Reds are at home to Grimsby tonight knowing a win would take them seven points clear of the relegation places.

James Tilley, who shone on Saturday, will be up against his old club.

He said: “We have had a little bit of a settled team in the last few games and we are understanding how each plays now. It has been good.”