Ben Smith is learning Spanish when he’s not helping Crawley’s push for the Football League.

Not surprisingly, the midfielder is an admirer of Barcelona and Real Madrid too but he admits it is old-fashioned English virtues of grit and determination which Reds are going to need if their dreams are to come true.

Smith could lead his side in tonight’s Blue Square Bet premier game against Mansfield Town at the Broadfield after taking over the captaincy for the second half of Saturday’s goalless draw at Gateshead.

He took the armband because Pablo Mills limped off with a twisted ankle and is rated doubtful.

Smith said: “It’s hard playing Saturday and Tuesday every week but when you are in our position you look forward to the matches.

“Every point is vital now and it is all about getting over the line. We just have to dig in and keep going.

“If we were in mid-table obscurity then we might not have too much to play for and it might be a bit of a grind but this is what we have worked for all season.

“We are almost there now but we are not counting our chickens. Anyone who knows the gaffer will know that he won’t allow that to happen.”

Read the full story in The Argus today and follow the game tonight via our live blog