Crawley 0 Doncaster 5: Reds suffer humiliating home defeat

Trailing 1-0 at half-time they let in four more goals in the second half to round off an embarrassing night for Dean Saunders’ team.

To make matters worse Reds will have to manage without their captain Joe Walsh in forthcoming matches after he was shown a red card for fighting.

Reds named an unchanged side for tonight’s League One match at home to Doncaster Rovers.

Mathias Pogba made his home debut on the right before switching to striker alongside Izale McLeod while Lee Fowler remained on the bench.

Paul Dickov made two changes to the Doncaster line-up with Nathan Tyson and Kyle Bennett replacing James Coppinger and Uche Ikpeazu.

The visitors got off to an ominous start when Harry Forrester was twice denied by saves by Lewis Price in the opening minute.

For Crawley, Pogba cut inside during an attacking run but fired wide.

Doncaster kept the pressure on as Dean Furman headed over the bar then Nathan Tyson struck a powerful volley which Price did well to turnaround for a corner.

Tyson forced another good effort from Price with a lower shot from 25 yards which he got down well to.

Izale McLeod had a chance against the run of play with a powerful shot but was denied by Stephen Bywater from 25 yards.

Doncaster took the lead in the 38th minute when a free-kick by Richie Wellens was not cleared by the Reds defence and Butler scrambled the ball in.

Saunders made a substitution at half-time with Bobson Bawling coming on for Lanre Oyebanjo.

Doncaster increased their lead 11 minutes into the second half from a long passing move which ended in Kyle Bennett beating Bawling and crossing for Wellens to score.

The visitors’ domination continued when Tyson made it 3-0 on 65 minutes with an excellent chip.

Moments later things went from bad to worse as captain Walsh committed a foul and then retaliated with a blow which then developed into a melee involving nearly all the players.

Walsh was sent-off for his part leaving Crawley to play the remaining 24 minutes with only ten men, already trailing 3-0.

Price kept the scoreline down with another good save, this time tipped over the bar.

But Doncaster soon added a fourth goal by Forrester after a one-two with Bennett which got behind the defence.

Donny should have have scored again when Bennett put through substitute Theo Robinson who somehow put his shot wide with the goal beckoning.

Ryan Dickson showed great energy in racing 70 yards into the penalty area before being brought down but a penalty appeal was ruled out by an offside.

Curtis Main then made it 5-0 in added-time with a left footed shot from outside the box to end a miserable evening for Crawley’s fans as Reds.

REDS: Price, Oyebanjo (Bawling 46), Dickson, Edwards, Smith (Fowler 60), McLeod, Walsh, Ward, Wordsworth, Pogba (Bradley 68), Elliott

UNUSED SUBS: Morgan, Tomlin, Dutton

DONCASTER: Bywater, Furman, McCombe, Forrester, Tyson (Robinson 74), Butler, Stevens (Evina 79), Keegan, Wellens (Main 79), Wabara, Bennett.

UNUSED SUBS: Marosi, Wakefield, Middleton, Whitehouse.

REFEREE: Lee Collins

ATTENDANCE: 2,581 (217 away)