Crawley’s players have been told to show what they are made of as they enter arguably their toughest run of games of the season.

Reds travel to fourth placed Preston today and also go to Port Vale (11th), Brentford (2nd) and MK Dons (7th) in their next five matches.

Boss John Gregory is determined to get back to winning ways following setbacks against Oldham and Sheffield United in the last two games as he targets a top ten finish in League One.

And he will be closely monitoring the attitude of his players in the coming weeks ahead of making decisions on who to offer new contracts in the summer.

Gregory said: “We probably couldn’t have picked four harder away matches than the ones we have coming up so we are going to have to pull out all the stops over the next few weeks.

“It’s going to be incredibly difficult but it is in situations like this when you learn about your players. You learn who is up for it, who is ready to carry on playing, roll their sleeves up and get on with the remainder of the season.

“It doesn't always end in champagne and laps of honour. This club had a few laps of honour and champagne parties celebrating promotions but this is now League One.

“When you get a punch on the nose like we have in the last two games you have to respond and come back so I will certainly be looking at my players to see the ones ready to go to war again today and those who maybe want to shy away from it.”