Crawley conceded three goals in the space of 21 minutes as they slumped to defeat at Halifax.

French midfielder Thomas Pinault returned to Reds having been laid low with illness for the previous two games. He came in for Jamie Cook, who failed to shake off a hamstring injury suffered in Tuesday's FA Cup replay defeat at Aldershot.

Jon-Paul Pittman was also back in the starting line-up in place of winger Mustapha Carayol as Evans opted to begin with three strikers in an ambitious 4-3-3 formation.

The attacking approach almost paid off with just three minutes gone when former Halifax player Tyrone Thompson missed a sitter. Pierre Joseph-Dubois found space in the box and waited for the Crawley skipper to arrive in the six yard box before teeing him up but Thompson somehow sent his close range effort wide.

Halifax had been struggling this season and it was easy to see why in the opening stages.

They play a long-ball game towards giant strikers Darryn Stamp and Jon Shaw but neither posed a serious threat to the Reds' defence.

That was until the 24th minute when a mistake by Glenn Wilson almost presented the Shaymen with the opening goal. He was caught the wrong side of his marker at a cross from Steve Gorbey and keeper Ashley Bayes was forced to make a reaction save to deny Shaw.

The vocal home fans did not have much longer to wait to see their side go in front following another lapse by Wilson three minutes later. He was again caught napping as Simon Heslop ran in behind him to slot past Bayes.

Reds were all over the place at the back following the goal and Shaw and Stamp both went close before Halifax doubled their lead on the half hour. Heslop raced down the right flank and cut back from the touchline for Shaw to swivel and blast home from eight yards.

The Shaymen continued to dominate until half time and Stamp sent a curling shot over from the edge of the box.

Reds made a double substitution after the break with Lee Blackburn and Cameroon striker Berlin Nlome-Ndebi, who signed the day before the game, replacing Guy Madjo and Joseph-Dubois.

But the visitors found themselves further behind before the changes could have an effect.

Heslop ran onto a ball over the top two minutes after the restart and was stopped by a brave block by Bayes. The rebound fell to midfielder Antony Griffiths, who did well to steer into the empty net from 20 yards.

Crawley were given a glimpse of hope on the hour as Halifax midfielder Ryan Poulson was sent off for a second bookable offence after failling to retreat ten yards at a free kick.

Substitute Carayol then almost pulled a goal back moments later with a curling free kick which keeper Adam Legzdins spectacularly tipped over.

Crawley: Bayes, Bull, Stevens, Krause, Wilson, Thompson, Bulman, Pinault, Madjo, Pittman, Joseph-Dubois. Subs: Watson, Blackburn, Nlome-Ndebi, Carayol, Clapham.