John Gregory is looking forward to his Crawley Town side getting back to action on Wednesday night and completing their FA Cup Second Round tie with Bristol Rovers.
It’s been over a month since the Reds’ original meeting with the Gas at the Memorial Ground - Gregory's first game in charge - ended 0-0 and set up a replay back at Broadfield Stadium.
However, when the teams met again on 18 December, torrential rain caused the match to be abandoned with 15 minutes remaining.
Crawley Tn v Bristol Rov
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Second Round proper replay
7.45pm, Wednesday 8 January 2014
Broadfield Stadium
Winners receive £27,000 from FA Prize Fund
Following a busy Christmas schedule, the game was planned for Third Round Saturday but again poor weather and a waterlogged pitch saw the match postponed.
And after ten days without a game since their 1-0 victory over Notts County in League One, the club has confirmed the game will go ahead after a pitch inspection on Wednesday morning as Gregory is desperate to catch up with fixtures.
“I think it’s about the fourth time of asking to get this game done, we’re obviously still on round two,” Gregory told the Crawley Town website. “It’s one we want to get on and progress.
“With the games coming thick and fast [over Christmas], with some of the results we’ve had we’ve not been able to dwell on them, which when you lose is a good thing.
The rain comes down at Broadfield Stadium
“We finished so well against Notts County on 29 December, and having not played since then we’d have liked to have got back out.
“When the Swindon game [on New Year’s Day] was called off there were quite a few disappointed players. They were fired up and ready to go as we were in good momentum.
“But on the other side of it the break has probably done us the world of good.”
Both Cup matches against Bristol Rovers have yet to yield a goal and Gregory, who reached The FA Cup Final as manager of Aston Villa in 2000, is expecting another tight game.
Bristol Rovers 0-0 Crawley Town, FA Cup Second Round
But with a trip to Championship outfit Birmingham City in the Third Round, followed by a potential home clash with Premier League Swansea City in Round Four the carrot, he hopes his side can overcome the League Two side on Wednesday night.
“I think we’ve moved on a little bit since then and have improved as a team. But nevertheless Bristol Rovers have had a couple of good results and it’s goingf to be a really tough game.
“I just hope the pitch stands up. The prize is the Third Round of The FA Cup and it’s something Crawley Town have been used to playing in. We want to get there, it’s a big tie for us.”
