Crawley boss John Hollins is relishing the challenge of taking on big-spending Conference leaders Oxford United tonight just 48 hours after losing to Southport.

Hollins says it will be a case of the haves against the have-nots when his side clash with Jim Smith's title favourites in front of the television cameras at Broadfield Stadium.

Oxford, relegated from League Two last season, are believed to have a weekly budget of more than £20,000.

It has enabled them to keep most of last season's squad and they are three points clear at the top with an unbeaten record after nine games.

Hollins can only dream of having that much spending power following a year of financial problems and a summer of administration.

He has been left with a squad of just 13 senior players following the departure of defender Patrick Sappleton last Friday.

But he insists he has no fears going into the game and cannot wait to pit his wits against the best team in the division.

He said: "These are the type of games I like. If you can't enjoy these matches, then which games can you enjoy?

"I like the challenge of the big matches and the players should too. Oxford are a very big club, they have the money and the players but once they step onto the football pitch it is just 11 versus 11, so we will give it a go."

Hollins admits losing Sappleton is a big blow to his threadbare squad.

Sappleton made six substitute appearances for Reds after joining in the summer from Billericay.

Hollins said: "He has been a good athlete and has a great attitude but he has decided to move on so we cannot do much about that except wish him all the best."

The Reds will need to be at their best tonight if they are bounce back from Saturday's defeat at Southport.

Hollins' side conceded three goals during a classy first-half show from the hosts and although they spent most of the second period on the front foot they were unable to repair the damage inflicted primarily by Dino Maamria.

Hollins said: "I though we actually started well but in truth we looked second to the ball throughout the first half and we paid for it.

"We were always short of being around people and the more confident they got, the more bright and sharp they looked.

"Once we made some changes, we got at them and produced quite a lot of opportunities but not really enough to get back into the game. We worked our hardest but sometimes that isn't enough to enable us to overcome people."

Southport opened the scoring after four minutes when Maamria released Alex Smith with a threaded pass after strong hold-up play, allowing the creative midfield player to stride into the box and slot a measured finish beyond the advancing Ben Hamer.

The hosts played some exciting football and, after a Maamria cross had narrowly eluded Lee Hoolickin, the Tunisian frontman doubled his side's tally midway through the half.

He finished a cleverly-crafted move involving Hoolickin and Liam Blakeman, whose deft throughball had exposed defender Dave Woozley, freeing Maamria to execute a crisp strike inside Hamer's near post.

Crawley's clearest opening of the half was spurned on 34 minutes by Jake Edwards, who directed a Ben Strevens pass straight at stopper Ryan Robinson from two yards after a corner from Tony Scully.

Southport added their third just before the break when Maamria converted a penalty three minutes into added time after being tugged to the ground by Woozley.

Hollins' side produced a reinvigorated second period but managed to take just one chance.

A shot from Strevens was blocked by defender Steve Rowland after a charging run and cross from Scully.

It was a centre from the electrifying Scully that engineered Town's potential lifeline just after the hour as Strevens converted a glancing header from 16-yards that looped into the Southport goal.

There were further chances for substitute Jack MacLeod, Scott Rendell and Scully but the damage had been done in the first period.

Crawley Town: Hamer, Judge, Brown (Mills 46), Woozley (MacLeod 46), Hiley (Rendell 73), Bulman, Bostwick, Scully, Blackburn, Strevens, Edwards. Subs not used: Tolfrey, Marshall.

Southport: Robinson, Lane, Rowland, Lee, Clancy, Baker (Booth 63), Boyd, Blakeman (Powell), Smith, Hoolickin, Maamria (Gray 84). Subs not used: Harrison, Marsh.

Attendance: 1,025.

Referee: C. Harwood.