Crawley slipped back into the League One relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat at home to Gillingham.

Jermaine McGlashan headed a winner nine minutes from time to inflict a first defeat in fourth games on the Reds.

Crewe’s 2-1 win at Sheffield United dropped Crawley back into the bottom four with seven games to play, starting with a trip to Gresty Road on Good Friday.

There were also wins today for fellow strugglers Leyton Orient and Coventry City.

In front of a best crowd of the season of 3,570, Gillingham dominated possession throughout the first half but their final ball was often lacking.

Brian Jensen, making his first start for 11 weeks, tipped over a header from John Marquis on 26 minutes but the Gillingham striker was penalised for a push in any case.

It was a pretty uneventful first half until the last five minutes, when Gillingham broke the deadlock.

The Reds were down to ten men at the time with Marvin Elliott off getting treatment when the lively Bradley Dack was played into space in the penalty area and his finished smartly into the far corner past Jensen.

Anthony Wordsworth produced Crawley’s first attempt at goal on 44 minutes with a shot past a post and then went even closer moments later with a 30-yard effort from a free-kick.

Reds boss Dean Saunders made two changes at half-time, replacing the hobbling Elliott with Gwion Edwards and throwing on Lanre Oyebanjo in place of Lewis Young.

There was more urgency from the Reds at the start of the second period but they were also caught on the break on 55 minutes when Luke Norris forced Jensen into a decent save at his near post.

Home fans were hopeful of a penalty on 61 minutes when top scorer Izale McLeod went down in the box but a free-kick was given against the Reds striker.

Two minutes later, though, McLeod drew Crawley level with his 19th goal of the season, a smart finish from just inside the penalty area.

Jensen prevented Gillingham from regaining the lead with 20 minutes remaining, tipping over a Marquis header from a corner.

Then with 11 minutes left McGlashan burst into the box and pulled the ball back for Max Ehmer who fired against a post.

The warning had been there and the visitors went 2-1 ahead on 81 minutes when Dack clipped the ball across for McGlashan to head home.

In a final push by Crawley, Tomlin dallied when given space in the penalty area, then Oyebanjo hit the outside of the near post with a left-foot strike.

Crawley: Jensen; Young (sub Oyebanjo 46), Wood, Ward, Bradley; Tomlin, Fowler, Elliott (sub Edwards 46), Dickson (sub Cofie 83); Wordsworth; McLeod. Subs not used: Bawling, Smith, Pogba, Price.

Gillingham: G.Morris; Hoyte, Egan, Ehmer, Bell; A.Morris, Loft; McGlashan, Dack,Marquis (sub Dickenson 88); Norris (sub McDonald 68). Subs not used: Legge, Galbraith, German Pritchard, Nelson.