Scott Lindsey felt his Crawley side were challenging towards the top of League One and not fighting against relegation after the Red Devils tasted victory in his first match back in charge.
Lindsey, who led the club into the division via the play-offs last season before leaving for an ill-fated five months in charge for MK Dons, was appointed for the second time after Rob Elliot was sacked in midweek.
He came on to the pitch to greet the fans before the game and fist-pumped before the south terrace at the finish after Kamari Doyle’s first-half goal had given Crawley a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers.
And that first win in nine saw Crawley close the gap on Rovers – who sit just above the relegation zone – to nine points with eight games to go.
Lindsey said: “It felt like it did last year.
“It felt like we were at the top end of the table and I feel really happy. I have enjoyed the way it has gone.
“The biggest one is the first win. I’m here to instil some belief and I’m confused at where we are in the league.
“We should have been further ahead by half-time. We can’t change what has happened in the past, but we’ve got eight games to go, eight cup finals, and we have to win as many as we can.
“I’m pleased now to have a whole week to get coaching into them. There is a long way to go and this is a step in the right direction. “
Rovers went into the crucial clash short on goalscoring options with Chris Martin and Ruel Sotiriou absent.
But boss Inigo Calderon said he could not fault his players individually despite a sixth defeat in their last seven away games.
“We have not made the level we should,” Calderon said.
“We have looked a different team to what we have been at home.
“But I am not going to get anybody out and fault them individually – they gave all they could, but were just not there where they should be.”
The Gas are six points above the drop zone and Calderon insisted it was not the time to be downbeat.
He added: “We’re still some points in our favour. You can make all the excuses you want to, but in the end it’s down to what points you can get.”
