Crawley ended a four game losing streak in League One with a slightly fortunate victory over Fleetwood Town at home.

The visitors created far more chances to win the game but were punished for failing to take any of them when Izale McLeod scored a winner with 12 minutes to go.

It was McLeod’s fourth goal of the season and like the previous three it earned Crawley a 1-0 win to lift them to 12th in the table.

While the result was precisely what the club needed to lift morale a crowd of just 1,905 was at the Checkatrade.com Stadium to see it – a new low since Reds were promoted to the Football League.

Boss John Gregory fielded a much-changed team to the one which had been thrashed by Rochdale the previous week and also tinkered with the formation.

Keith Keane and Josh Wright came in for their debuts in a five-man midfield alongside Conor Henderson with Ryan Dickson and Gavin Tomlin in the wide positions.

Mat Sadler started at left-back with Joe Walsh returning from Wales Under-21 duty in the centre of defence.

Crawley enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes but were unable to carve out any real opportunities while Fleetwood looked dangerous every time they went forward.

Stephen Dobbie could have given the Cod Army the lead in the very first minute when he headed a cross from Matty Blair straight at Brian Jensen.

That was a sign for things to come as the visitors opened up Reds with worrying ease. Former Crawley striker Jamie Proctor headed just over the bar and also went close from long range.

Dobbie failed to make the most from two more good chances while Conor McLaughlin curled an effort just wide after walking through the Crawley defence.

Reds had to wait until the half hour for their first sight of goal when Gavin Tomlin curled a shot across the face of goal.

The home side’s best chance came six minutes before the interval and should have given them an undeserved lead. Izale McLeod did well to get over a cross but Joe Walsh’s header from six yards glanced wide with two team-mates better placed behind him.

Fleetwood continued to pepper the Crawley goal after the interval without success.

Steven Schumacher fired just wide from 25 yards and Proctor forced Jensen into a comfortable low save with another long range effort.

Dobbie thought he had broken the deadlock when he turned Mat Sadler in the area but his shot looped over the bar off the outstretched leg of Jensen.

David Ball and Antoni Sarcevic also went close before Reds stunned the visitors by taking the lead in the 78th minute.

Jimmy Smith did well to flick the ball through to McLeod who controlled it on his chest before lobbing past the onrushing Chris Maxwell.

Fleetwood almost grabbed an equaliser deep into injury-time when Nathan Pond lifted the ball over Jensen but Joe Walsh was back to clear off the line.