Crawley produced a performance to remember as they lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

Wes Brown's first half headed decided the issue but Crawley put up a terrific display and almost snatched an equaliser in stoppage time when substitute Richard Brodie headed against the crossbar.

The Reds made an excellent start and had a chance after just 12 seconds when Wille Gibson just failed to get on the end of a Craig McAllister cross from the left.

On 11 minutes Matt Tubbs headed the ball down for Ben Smith who unleashed a swerving shot past the far upright.

McAllister directed a header on target for Crawley from Dean Howell's cross on 26 minutes but United were beginning to take a grip on the game and two minutes later United were ahead when Darron Gibson crossed from the left and skipper Brown rose highest to flick a header into the far corner.

It should have been 2-0 on 34 minutes but Fabio poked a shot wide of the near post from Michael Carrick's threaded pass, then Michel Kuipers beat away a shot from Gabriel Obertan soon after.

United upped the ante by introducing Wayne Rooney as a half-time substitute for Anderson who took a knock in the first-half.

Like the first half, Crawley started the second half really positively but could not find a way through.

They had a great chance with 18 minutes remaining when David Hunt screwed a shot wide of the far post from a cross by Brodie.

Two minutes later they went even closer with an overhead kick by Tubbs which just cleared the bar after United failed to deal with a Jamie Cook cross.

Tubbs also drilled a free-kick over the bar and Crawley were not finished yet.

In a grandstand finish, Brodie headed against the crossbar from Hunt's corner in stoppage time, then McFadzean headed over.

For a full report, reaction, pictures, a special fans' supplement and much more see The Argus on Monday.

Here is how the action unfolded at Old Trafford.

Pre-match: Wayne Rooney was named on the bench for Man Utd who selected a largely second string side captained by Wes Brown. Crawley selected David Hunt at right-back ahead of Glenn Wilson with Willie Gibson preferred on the right to Jamie Cook.

1st min: Crawley kick-off and within 12 seconds Craig McAllister crosses from the left and Willie Gibson is just unable to get on the end of it.

3rd min: Dangerous low cross from Obertan but no one on the end of it.

6th min: Crawley fans are making lots of noise. The atmosphere is great.

7th min: Meaty challenge by John O'Shea on Ben Smith goes unpunished.

10th min: It has been a solid start by Crawley.

* Man Utd 0 Crawley 0 Updated after 10 mins of 1st half.

11th min: Matt Tubbs nodded the ball down and Ben Smith unleashed a swerving shot from 20 yards which flew past the upright.

14th min: Hernandez got in behind the Crawley defence but was pulled back by a marginal offside decision.

16th min: Hunt headed clear a Rafael cross as Obertan got ready to pull the trigger.

20th min: Crawley are giving a good account of themselves and are certainly not overrawed.

* Man Utd 0 Crawley 0 Updated after 20 mins of 1st half.

21st min: Long throw from Hunt was knocked on by a defender which just took it away from Smith as he ghosted into the area.

24th min: Howell crossed from the left and McAllister go in a header on target which was easy for Lindegaard.

26th min: Fifth corner of the game for United, Crawley clear again.

27th min: Good tackle by McFadzean to clear the danger from Hernandez following a super pass by Darron Gibson.

28th min - GOAL: From a recycled corner, Gibson crossed from the left and Wes Brown rose highest to flick a header into the far corner.

* Man Utd 1 Crawley 0 Updated after 30 mins of 1st half.

34th min: Threaded pass from Carrick released Fabio but he poked a disappointing shot wide of the near post.

35th min: Fabio went down in the penalty area under challenge from McFadzean but it looked a clear dive.

38th: Kuipers beat away a shot from Obertan. Good save.

40th min: They may be behind but Crawley have done really well.

* Man Utd 1 Crawley 0 Updated after 40 mins of 1st half.

42nd min: Promising move for Crawley as Howell released Tubbs but his cross was flicked away by Brown to clear the danger.

45th min: Smart move by Crawley involved Tubbs and McAllister but it broke down as Howell looked for a foul which he wasn't going to get.

HALF-TIME – Man Utd 1 Crawley 0: Crawley trail at half-time but they have given a good account of themselves. They had a chance after just 12 seconds from McAllister's cross but United got stronger as the half went on. The goal came from their first effort on target but Fabio should have made it 2-0.

46th min: Wayne Rooney was introduced as ahalf-time substitute for Anderson who took a knock in the first half.

47th min: Tubbs tried to get in a shot from a McAllister knockdown but was crowded out.

48th min: Rooney released Obertan down the left but his dangerous close was cleared from close range by Mills under pressure from Bebe.

49th min: Ben Smith shot charged down on the edge of the area.

51st min: Tubbs went down in the penalty area under pressure from O'Shea but it didn't look a penalty.

54th min: Torres booked for a foul on Rafael, who made a meal of it. Rafael was immediately replaced by Smalling.

55th min: Crawley have made a really positive start to the second half.

* Man Utd 1 Crawley 0 Updated after 10 mins of 2nd half.

56th min: Fabio unleashed a shot from 20 yards which the partially sighted Kuipers held comfortably.

61st min: Rooney shot over the top from 20 yards. No worries thre for Kuipers.

Attendance: 74,778.

63rd min: Richard Brodie on for McAllister.

* Man Utd 1 Crawley 0 Updated after 20 mins of 2nd half.

69th min: Cook on for Gibson for Crawley, Darren Fletcher on for Fabio.

72nd min: Hunt screwed a shot wide of the far post from Brodie's cross. Decent chance.

74th min: Tubbs overhead over the bar after United failed to clear a Cook cross.

* Man Utd 1 Crawley 0 Updated after 30 mins of 2nd half.

78th min: Howell free-kick high over the bar from a decent position.

81st min: Simon Rusk on for Smith who has run out of steam after a terrific display.

82nd min: Wes Brown booked for deliberate handball. Tubbs drilled free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.

* Man Utd 1 Crawley 0 Updated after 40 mins of 2nd half.

88th min: Rooney booked for foul on McFadzean.

91st min: McFadzean forced a corner.

92nd min: From Hunt's corner, Brodie headed against the bar before the danger was cleared.

93rd min: Rooney low shot wide.

94th min: McFadzean headed over in grandstand finish.

FULL-TIME – Man Utd 1 Crawley 0: Crawley have lost but they have done themselves proud and almost snatched a replay with Brodie's header against the bar.