Bradford is the big game for Evans (From The Argus)

Bradford is the big game for Evans

11:00am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Crawley boss Steve Evans has labelled today’s trip to Bradford City a bigger game than their FA Cup fifth round tie against Stoke.

Reds travel to Valley Parade on a high following their 1-0 win at Hull City last weekend which set up the televised encounter against Premier League opposition in two weeks’ time.

But the victory over the Tigers and their Championship rivals Bristol City have come during a run of just one win in their last six league games.

That has seen them drop out of the automatic promotion places in League Two for the first time since suffering back-to-back defeats to Morecambe and Swindon in September.

Evans said: “Stoke is not the biggest game for us at the moment. Bradford tomorrow is the biggest game and then we have got Cheltenham, Swindon and the derby against Aldershot.

“We are on another amazing FA Cup journey but the target this season has always been to get promotion and that has not changed.

“It is our fourth away game in a row in the league and nobody else has had to contend with a run like that. If we get another point today I will be happy because there is no question the run we have been on has been tough.

“The lads have coped with it extremely well and if we can get through this period and are still in a good position at the end of the month then I would back ourselves to go on and be promoted.”

Evans took his squad to Portugal this week for a break following their FA Cup exertions but dismisses any notion the forthcoming clash with Stoke could have a negative affect on Crawley’s promotion challenge.

He said: “Playing Manchester United wasn’t a distraction last year and I don’t think Stoke will be either. It is on TV and we have got the type of players who will thrive on that.

“It is fantastic occasion for the club. Last year we dealt really well with big games and I have no doubt it will be the same this time.

“We went to Portugal this week and recharged our batteries, got some sunshine on our backs and are now ready for the next 22 or 23 games.”