Gregory promises Crawley will go on the attack against mighty Wolves

John Gregory says his Crawley side will stick to their attacking philosophy when they welcome free-scoring Wolves to the Checkatrade.com Stadium this evening.
Joy turns to pain. Billy Clarke celebrates his late leveller in the reverse fixture before (below) Wolves are awarded a 94th minute penalty to win the match 2-1. Pics Jon RigbyJoy turns to pain. Billy Clarke celebrates his late leveller in the reverse fixture before (below) Wolves are awarded a 94th minute penalty to win the match 2-1. Pics Jon Rigby
Joy turns to pain. Billy Clarke celebrates his late leveller in the reverse fixture before (below) Wolves are awarded a 94th minute penalty to win the match 2-1. Pics Jon Rigby

And the Reds boss hopes he can be the League One leaders’ bad omen having watched their last defeat against Gillingham back at the start of January.

After that 1-0 away loss Kenny Jackett’s side went on a club record nine-game winning run where they were scoring for fun, only ended by Saturday’s surprise 0-0 draw with Shrewsbury at Molineux.

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Gregory will be wary of a similar reaction from the title favourites tonight in a sell-out game being billed as one of the biggest ever at Crawley’s ground, but he says all the expectation will be on the visitors.

Wolves V Crawley 23-8-13 (Pic by Jon Rigby) ENGPPP00420130827131136Wolves V Crawley 23-8-13 (Pic by Jon Rigby) ENGPPP00420130827131136
Wolves V Crawley 23-8-13 (Pic by Jon Rigby) ENGPPP00420130827131136

Gregory said: “Playing in front of a sell out crowd is always exciting so the atmosphere should be fantastic and obviously the fact that we are playing such a big club in Wolverhampton Wanderers makes it a massive game.

“Four years ago you wouldn’t have imagined this fixture when Wolves were in the Premier League and Crawley were in the Conference, but that’s what football can do, make dreams come alive.

“It shows the progress the club have made in the last few years with two promotions while unfortunately for Wolves they’ve gone the other way with successive relegations, but Kenny Jackett is doing a fantastic job and everyone can see the club is moving upwards again.

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“They’ve been on a tremendous run of late, especially at home where they’ve blown teams away. I watched their defeat to Gillingham where it was one of those games where they had chance after chance and lost to a very late goal, much like we did. That was their last defeat so I’m rather hoping I turn into their bad omen and get to witness their next defeat as well.

“It just shows any team is fallible and if we can keep a clean sheet it always gives you a chance.”

Reds took the game to Wolves in the reverse fixture back in August, only losing out to a 94th minute Leigh Griffiths penalty after Billy Clarke had levelled the match in stoppage time in front of the Sky TV cameras.

And insisting his side will go out with no fear Gregory said: “We’re not a team who can sit back, we like to get forward whenever possible and we go into games trying to win them so tonight won’t be any different.

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“No one is expecting anything from us apart from maybe ourselves, and we’ve probably produced our best performances against the top sides in this division. We’ve beaten Peterborough home and away, won at Leyton Orient and obviously ran Wolves close before I was here so I’m expecting another good performance from us.”

Crawley should be a full strength with striker Rory Fallon set to return from a heel injury for what will be the side’s eighth game in just 25 days.

Wolves will also be strong with Sam Ricketts (thigh) hoping to return after missing the weekend draw against Shrewsbury.