Crawley fans may regard Robbie Matthews as a like-for-like replacement for Steve Fletcher.

But the big striker insists there is more to his game than trying to bully opposition central defenders and win aerial battles.

The 26-year-old joined Crawley on loan until the end of the season from Salisbury a fortnight ago when Fletcher got his dream move back to Bournemouth. After a promising debut in the 1-0 defeat by Oxford, Matthews opened his account for his new club not with his head but a tidy right-foot finish in the 4-4 draw at Ebbsfleet United ten days ago.

“I don’t mind getting on the shoulder of the last defender and trying to win headers but I like the ball to feet as well,” said Matthews, when asked to describe his style.

“But what you will always get from me is 100% – I try to put myself about, win the flick ons and battle for every ball.

“There are some games in this league where you can get the ball down and play but a lot of them are battles where football goes out the window. I haven’t been here long but it looks like we have the squad to cope with both.”

Boss Steve Evans has revamped his forward line during the transfer window, selling top scorer Jon-Paul Pittman to Wycombe for £50,000 and releasing Fletcher.

It means Matthews is likely to partner Jon Shaw, who also opened his account against Ebbsfleet, in a new-look attack when Reds resume their promotion push at struggling Grays tomorrow.

Matthews may have swapped a relegation battle at Salisbury for a play-off push but leaving Wiltshire was not an easy decision for the former bricklayer, who began his career in Salisbury’s youth team and has clocked up more than 200 appearances for the club.

He helped them win promotion to the Conference two years ago after scoring 15 goals and netted against Crawley in a 4-1 win in August 2007.

Matthews was a firm favourite with the Salisbury fans but their parlous financial position meant they had to move on some of their big earners.

Matthews went on loan to Blue Square south Havant and Waterlooville in November and pledged to help keep Salisbury in the Conference when he returned three weeks ago.

But after playing one more game for the Whites he was on his way to Sussex as Evans landed a player he has long admired.

Matthews added: “From a purely selfish point of view it was a no-brainer coming here, I have got bills to pay and everyone knows Salisbury have had financial problems.

“But it was still hard because I have been loyal to Salisbury for the last six or seven years and the week I moved I told the fans on local radio that I wanted to stay and keep them up.”

Ironically, Matthews would probably have stayed if the move had happened a week later. By then local millionairre Peter Yeldon, who bankrolled the club’s rise up the pyramid, was back at the club.

Despite picking up just one point from their last three games, Matthews believes Crawley are still on course for promotion.

He added: “Crawley are a big club and we can definitely get in the play-offs, especially when we get a few players back from injury.”

Crawley (from): Rayner, Wilson, Rents, Wright, Quinn, Chalmers, Pinault, Bulman, Malcolm, Shaw, Matthews, Gill, Killeen, Forrest, Rankin, Carter, Nayee.

Grays (from): Arnold, Davis, Stuart, Sloma, Cogan, Beaven, Thurgood, Welsh, Thomas, Pugh, Bailey, Berry, Gier, Butcher, Elliott, Tabiri.

Follow Crawley LIVE at Grays tomorrow at theargus.co.uk/matchdaylive