Crawley Town’s three-year stay in League One came to an end after a 2-1 defeat on the final day against Coventry City.

Reds needed to win to be sure of avoiding relegation and the omens looked good when Brian Jensen saved Nick Proschwitz’s penalty just before half-time.

Matthias Pogba then gave the home side the lead just after the interval to send a record league crowd at the Checkatrade.com Stadium wild.

But Coventry equalised with 17 minutes to go through Marcus Tudgay and with results elsewhere going against them needed a winner to stay up.

As they threw everything forward Coventry grabbed an injury-time winner through substitute James Maddison.

Coventry began the game only needing a draw to secure their own safety and started positively.

They had the ball in the back of the net after four minutes when Jensen failed to claim a free kick from the right only to be spared when the linesman’s flag went up for offside.

John Fleck also flashed a volley just over the bar from the edge of the area before Crawley started to find their feet in the game.

Izale McLeod gave the home crowd their first cause for encouragement when he fired over from 25 yards after 28 minutes but otherwise all the action came just before half-time.

Marvin Elliott forced Lee Burge into his first save of the game two minutes before the break with a low effort at the near post.

Coventry were then handed a great chance to get their noses in front right on half-time when Gavin Tomlin brought down Marcus Tudgay in the area.

Nick Proschwitz stepped up to take the penalty but Jensen guessed right as he got down well to his right to push the effort away.

It proved a pivotal moment as Reds took the lead four minutes after the interval.

Tomlin went from villain to hero as he whipped over an inch perfect cross for Pogba to rise above his marker and nod home at the far post.

The Crawley fans were still celebrating as McLeod went close to doubling the advantage, racing on to a long ball but putting his shot too close to Burge at the near post.

With other results not going their way Coventry’s need for an equaliser increased and it arrived in the 73rd minute.

Jim O’Brien delivered a perfect cross from the right and Tudgay got in between two defenders to head home from six yards.

Crawley’s relegation was confirmed when Darren Ward’s mistake in injury time let in Frank Nouble who set up fellow substitute Maddison to make it 2-1.

Crawley (4-4-1-1): Jensen; Young (Oyebanjo, 70), Ward, Bradley, Youga (Bawling, 83); Simpson (Edwards, 83), Fowler, Elliott, Tomlin; Pogba; McLeod. Subs not used: Price, Smith, Harrold, Morgan.

Coventry (4-4-2): Burge; Willis, Johnson, Martin, Stokes; O'Brien (Webster, 90+3), Fleck, Ward, Barton (Maddison, 54); Proschwitz (Nouble, 61), Tudgay. Subs not used: Charles-Cook, Jackson, Odelusi, Phillips.