Crawley Town still have work to do to beat League Two drop, says new head coach Colin Kazim-Richards

Goals from Taylor Richards and Tobi Adeyemo in stoppage-time secured a dramatic victory for the Reds and gave their new boss the perfect start to life at the Broadfield Stadium – and a win in his first ever game in the dugout.

Victory kept them two points clear of the relegation zone, but the Reds remain 21st after wins for relegation rivals Barrow and Newport County on Saturday.

“In context of what we needed, it feels amazing,” Kazim-Richards said.

“At the end of the season, when the job's done, I can let you know personally.

“But for what was needed, what the men in that dressing room needed, all the staff around the club needed, and then what the fans needed, it's amazing.

“But we've got one more round. As you know, that's the term that we're using. That's the reset.

“When you score, we’ve got one more round. When we make a block, we've got one more round. When we win the game, we’ve got one more round.

“It's like the reset. for something good or for something that didn't go our way, we’ve got another round.

“So, in that context it's nice, but then tomorrow [and] tonight we're back to work, for me and the staff. The players can get a rest day tomorrow.”

Kazim-Richards spoke about his first interactions with the Crawley fans, noting the contrast between the uncertainty before the game to the jubilation at the final whistle.

“It was two different receptions,” he said. “I think at the start it was nice, but it was still a little bit sceptical. And then at the end, they were able to see the passion of everybody and the energy of the team, and not just from me.

“I think I need to maybe reel it in a little bit, but in theory we're fighting for our lives and I just think sometimes we can be a little bit logical and understand that.

“I have to understand that's the rules of the game, and I think if he doesn’t he gets in trouble by the powers that be.

“But we're fighting for our lives. There's going to be emotion, there's going to be energy, there’s going to be ups and downs.

“I thought I was quite calm during the whole game in terms of being respectful but once the goal goes in, to keep calm and collected is probably something I have to work on.

“That's why I sat down after the second goal because I didn't want to get another one.

“But I think the boys deserve to see that type of passion from me personally because I'm a man that is ‘show me, don't tell me’ – actions speak louder than words.”

He added: “Fans are always going to be fans, but they also have to see the results.

“If we take away [the] Fleetwood game, we got three results but just not the results we needed in terms of how everything else went.

“But we still got results and we got points on the board. So, we were just here to let the boys know that there’s quality in the room because we’ve got three results, but we need to do more – one more round.

“And I hope that the fans today, I'm sure they can see that now.

“Honestly, I’m not coming like I’m a philosopher or anything like that. I just want to put the players that can score us the goals in the right areas and that’s it.

“It’s very simple in terms of that being [in] the right areas to be able to affect the game.”

The new Reds’ boss was fully involved in the side’s warm-up on Saturday and later explained his reasoning behind the move.

He said: “I could have come in my own clothes, and I just thought the boys deserve to see that I'm a part of it.

“It's not my show, it's their show, it's the club show.

“I could have looked smart on the side and had my clothes on, but it was to show them I’m a part – let's come out.

“And how my energy is is how I have to set the tone. Me and the staff have to set the tone.

“So, if I would have stayed inside, it might have just been a bit lower and then, when we come in the dressing room, I'm trying to bump it up.

“I have full confidence in my staff – but I think if you don't know something, if you haven't been shown something, it's hard to then go out and do it.

“People get lost in expectation, if that makes sense. I can't expect something if I've not shown it. So, that's why I did that.”

Crawley take on Newport County at Rodney Parade next Friday in a crucial clash at the bottom of League Two.