Football: Reds are playing to keep their manager

Cade scored his first league goal for Reds in Tuesday's vital 2-0 win against Kidderminster Harriers.

It was only Crawley's second victory of the season and took some pressure off boss Francis Vines.

Cade said: "There is massive pressure on us at the moment, especially the manager.

Everyone thought that was going to be it for him after Saturday's defeat but luckily it wasn't and we got the win against Kidderminster.

"We went out and did it for him more than anyone else.

"We know we are playing to save his job at the moment and we don't want to let him down. We are also playing for our own jobs.

"No one's job is safe at the football club because we are down at the bottom of the table.

"We know if we don't perform we will be out because that is what football is like.

"You only have to look at what happened to Michael Owen at Real Madrid.

He is a world class player but was left struggling to find a club.

"But we know that everyone's job will be safe if we carry on winning and go up the table, so that is what we have to try to do."

Cade admits he has underperformed since joining Reds from Colchester and says that goes for most of the other nine summer signings.

Lee Elam had his contract cancelled this week, Danny Ekoku has been loaned to Sutton and some of the others have struggled to make an impact.

Cade said: "To be honest, in my first few weeks I was awful.

"I didn't really enjoy being down here because I didn't know anyone or the area.

"Most of the players are based in London so it was difficult to socialise with them.

"Now I have got to know the lads and I have settled in nicely and my performances have improved. It goes hand-in-hand. If you are enjoying yourself off the pitch then you will play better on it.

"I have been getting better and better with every game but I feel there is still more to come from me.

"Everyone can play better and once that happens we will start climbing up the league because we have got good enough players.

"Some of the quality in training is unbelievable but at the moment a lot of that seems to go out of the window once we get on the pitch."

Tomorrow Crawley travel to Altrincham, who have also struggled since being promoted from Conference north.

The Cheshire club have conceded 17 goals and scored just one in their last five games but Vines is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "We can't start talking about being confident of winning against Altrincham with the way our results have been going.

"We need to concentrate on getting another clean sheet and working hard first and hopefully the win will come."

Goalkeeper Scott Ward will keep his place ahead of Phil Smith after making an impressive league debut against Kidderminster.

Smith was dropped after costing Crawley goals in each of their previous three games.

Vines said: "Phil is a good goalkeeper, he is one of the best in the Conference.

"I showed faith in him but he has cost us goals, probably about five or six this year, and I thought it was time to give Scott a chance and he took it."

Neil Jenkins is available for selection following a calf injury but Simon Wormull is a doubt with a back problem.