Steve Evans has leapt to the defence of Simon Rayner, calling critics of his underfire goalkeeper “out of order”.

The 25-year-old Canadian stopper was booed by Crawley fans after his mistake led to a goal in last Sunday’s 4-2 win over Weymouth.

Later in the game there were ironic cheers from a small section of the home support when Rayner cleared his lines.

Evans said: “Any criticism of Simon Rayner is out of order.

“Supporters pay their hard-earned money so they are entitled to have a go but I don’t think it should be personal or below the belt.

“As a manager you look at whether your goalkeeper wins you more points over a season or costs you. Simon is in credit – he has earned us a lot of points when we have needed him with a commanding performance or good saves as the fans who saw him at Cambridge two weeks ago will tell you.

“We have no worries in the dressing room about Simon. He is a passionate man and he cares but we just tell him to get on with his football because we know that if he makes a great save which earns us three points on Saturday the fans will be applauding him.

“Supporters will always pick on someone, last year it was Glenn Wilson.

“But we are fighting hard to get into the play-offs and this is the time when we need them. They have been great, I’m thinking about the second half against Wrexham, and we will need them again tomorrow.”

Evans is threatening to make changes for the visit of mid-table Rushden after Tuesday’s lacklustre performance in the 2-0 defeat against Kidderminster.

One player whose place is under threat is skipper Chris Giles, who was used as a holding midfield player at Aggborough.

Evans said: “For 20 minutes Chris Giles was excellent but then he started to do his own thing and when he does his own thing he’s rubbish.

“We gave Chris the same job Glenn Wilson did so well at Cambridge but he started to man mark Daryl Knights, who ended up being their man of the match, and that meant Dannie Bulman and Simon Weatherstone got over-run by their other three.

“If people are going to play in our team they will do what they are told and if they don’t, as Chris now knows in no uncertain terms, they won’t play. We will use the system again but we won’t use Giles there again!

“It doesn’t matter if you are Crawley Town or Manchester United. If players start to decide things on the pitch tactically you’ve got a problem. They all think they are coaches just like supporters think they are the manager and can pick the best team.

“We have options to change it now and we will do that. Our bench was the strongest it has been all season on Tuesday and if your performances dip you go out of the side.”

Victory will move Reds to within four points of the play-offs.

Last season 81 points were needed to reach the play-offs but with so many of the contenders still to play each other, Evans does not believe the target will be as great this season.

He added: “I see one or two places up for grabs between ourselves, Stevenage, Torquay and Wrexham – all of whom we still have to play.

“The run-in doesn’t worry me because I believe we do well against the decent teams because we prepare better mentally. The ball is at our feet. There is still a quarter of the season left, a lot of football to be played and we are still in it.”

Crawley (from): Rayner, Wilson, Rents, Gaia, Wright, Weatherstone, Bulman, Pinault, Killeen, Shaw, Matthews, Malcolm, Forrest, Quinn, Rankin, Giles.

Rushden: Roberts, Osano, Downer, Hope, Robinson, Beecroft, Wolleaston, Burgess, Kelly, Tomlin, Rankine, Smith, Jelleyman, Arthur, McGuinness, Hilliard.