Boss John Gregory has admitted that Crawley are in relegation dogfight for the first time.

Defeat at leaders Bristol City on Saturday saw Reds slip to 20th place in League One, just one place and two points above the drop zone.

Luke Ayling’s 87th-minute winner ended a six-match unbeaten league run for Gregory’s men who could drop into the relegation places for the first time if they lose at home to Port Vale next weekend.

Gregory said: “I have been looking over my shoulder since day one so nothing has changed. I’ve always been aware of it (the threat of relegation) but the only way to avoid it is by making sure you pick up points.

“We played quite well on Saturday but performances don’t mean a great deal if you not winning. Picking up points is the only thing that matters and it doesn’t matter how you do it.

“We need to turn some of these good performances into victories to get ourselves up the table. It has to be better if we want to continue in League One.”