Crawley responded a turbulent week by earning a battling 1-1 draw at in-form Oldham Athletic.

The omens did not look good when Reds fell behind to a goal from debutant Daniel Johnson after just seven minutes.

But Gwion Edwards scored a superb long-range equaliser just before half-time and then dug in after the interval to cling on for a hard-earned point.

It could prove to be a significant result for Crawley and their underfire manager John Gregory having lost their previous two games and then transfer-listed five players during the week.

Conor Henderson was handed a surprise start for just two days after being one of those placed on the transfer list.

The midfielder was one of five players told they could leave the club on Thursday while Lewis Young and Brian Jensen were also included on the substitutes’ bench.

Henderson came in for the suspended Izale McLeod with Edwards pushed up alongside Gavin Tomlin in a 3-5-2 formation.

There was also a change at the back with Dean Leacock returning from suspension in place of the injured Lanre Oyebanjo.

The fact academy graduates Ryan Richefond and Bradley Isaacs were both on the bench along with Emmett O’Connor - returning from a nine week injury lay-off - highlighted the lack of options available to Gregory.

Crawley had the ball in the net after just three minutes but Edwards was in an offside position when he poked home from Leacock’s header.

Crawley’s aim was to keep things tight but Oldham blew a big hole in that gameplan as they took the lead in the seventh minute.

Nobody closed down Johnson when he picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and the on-loan Aston Villa midfielder drove into the box before sliding a shot under Jamie Ashdown.

The small group of away fans must have feared the worst at that point but Reds responded well to restrict Oldham to long range strikes from Mike Jones and Danny Philliskirk which Ashdown dealt with comfortably.

Crawley had created little going forward but equalised two minutes before the break with a goal right out of the blue.

Goalkeeper Paul Rachubka put James Wilson under pressure and his clearance went straight to Jimmy Smith. Edwards had no options after being found by Smith 25 yards from goal so opted to unleash a shot which flew past Rachubka and inside the far post.

Oldham replaced top scorer Jonathan Forte with Michael Tidser at the break and took control right from the restart.

Johnston saw his effort deflected wide after Henderson had given the ball away in a dangerous position and then Mike Jones forced Ashdown into a low save.

Jones was also denied by another deflection as Oldham cranked up the pressure while Philliskirk failed to make a proper connection when presented with a free header eight yards out.

Timothee Dieng headed a free kick straight at Ashdown while Bobson Bawling made a superb block to deny Philliskirk what looked a certain goal.

Reds were largely on the backfoot in the second half but still managed to get forward on rare occasions with Edwards flashing a shot just wide and Bobson Bawling forcing Rachubka into a save.

Oldham (4-1-2-1-2): Rachubka; B Wilson, Dieng, J Wilson, Mills; Kelly (Poleon, 80); Jones, Johnson (Dayton, 80); Philliskirk; Ibehre, Forte (Tidser, 46). Subs not used: Etheridge, Winchester, Turner, Lockwood.

Crawley (3-5-2): Ashdown; Leacock, Bradley, Walsh; Bawling, Keane, Smith, Henderson (Young, 61), Dickson; Edwards, Tomlin. Subs: Jensen, O’Connor, Banya, Richefond, Isaacs.