Crawley slumped to the bottom of the League One table after suffering a third successive away defeat at Fleetwood.

Antoni Sarcevic scrored the only goal of the game from a free kick two minutes before the interval to earn Fleetwood their first home win since November 1.

It was no less than the hosts deserved after dominating a game in which Crawley failed to register a single shot on target.

Reds have now gone 14 games without a win and dropped below Yeovil at the foot of the table after the Glovers picked up a point at home to Coventry.

Interim boss Dean Saunders ditched his usual 4-4-2 formation in preference for an extra man in midfield as Lewis Young replaced Gavin Tomlin in the starting line-up.

The move came after Reds had been outnumbered in the middle of the park at Rochdale last week and it seemed to have the desired effect in the opening stages.

Reds started brightly but as has been the case too often this season their final ball let them down with a blocked shot from Gwion Edwards their only real effort on goal in the first half.

Fleetwood started nervously as they searched for their first home win since November 1 but slowly took control of the match.

Antoni Sarcevic tested Lewis Price twice with a thumping volley which was tipped over the bar and a close-range effort which the on-loan Crystal Palace keeper did well to block.

Crawley’s hopes of getting in on level terms at the break were broken two minutes before the interval with Sarcevic the predictable scorer.

Former Reds striker Jamie Proctor won a free kick just outside the area and Sarcevic’s effort was driven through the wall and under the body of Price.

Crawley improved after the interval but it was the hosts who went closest to extending their lead.

Jeff Hughes put a free header over the bar after finding himself unmarked at the far post from a corner while Sarcevic was denied by the post after beating Price to a long ball and lobbing the advancing goalkeeper.

Saunders brought on Dean Morgan for his debut along with Bobson Bawling as he went to 4-4-2 but they still struggled to pose any threat bar a header from Darren Ward which glanced wide.

Proctor came close to doubling Fleetwood’s lead near the end when his fizzing 20-yard effort was superbly turned around a post by Price.

Fleetwood (4-1-2-1-2): Maxwell; McLaughlin, Roberts, Jordan, Crainey; J Hughes; Sarcevic, Morris (Schumacher, 82); Evans; Proctor, McAlinden (Ball, 74). Subs not used: Davies, Murdoch, Pond, Dobbie, Haughton.

Crawley (4-4-1-1): Price; Oyebanjo, Ward, Walsh, Dickson (Tomlin, 76); Young, Elliott (Morgan, 63), Smith (Bawling, 62), Edwards; Wordsworth; McLeod. Subs not used: Dutton, Bradley, Anderson, Harrold.