Crawley slipped into the League One relegation zone after slumping to a 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Leyton Orient.

Two goals from Chris Dagnall plus strikes from David Mooney and Dean Cox earned Orient only their second home win of the season to leapfrog above Reds who are now in 21st spot.

Jimmy Smith had cancelled out Cox’s early goal but John Gregory’s men were well beaten in the end as they winless run stretched to ten games.

The result will increase the pressure on Gregory ahead of the crucial relegation battle against Colchester United at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on Sunday.

There was a hectic start to the game as a sparse Boxing Day crowd were treated to three goals inside the opening 20 minutes.

Former Albion winger Cox gave Orient the lead when he whipped a 20-yard free kick in off the underside of the bar after Dean Leacock had been penalised for handball.

Reds were quickly back on level terms after a free kick from Conor Henderson sparked a scramble in the Orient box. Matt Harrold’s header came back off a post but Smith was able to force the rebound over the line.

Crawley deserved their equaliser but were undone by another moment of quality from Cox in the 20th minute as he drove in a cross from the left with the outside of his boot which was perfect for Dagnall to head home.

Smith almost levelled with a cheeky effort from 40-yards after spotting Adam Legzdins off his line but his shot drifted over the bar.

The home side pushed for a third goal early in the second half and it took a fine low save from Jensen to deny substitute David Mooney.

Former Crawley loanee Josh Wright also sent an effort narrowly wide and thumped another into the midriff of Jensen.

Reds suffered a further blow when defender Dean Leacock limped off with ten minutes to go which forced Marvin Elliott to drop into the back four.

Orient wrapped up only their second home win of the season with two minutes to go when Mooney scored at the third attempt after his initial efforts had been kept out by Jensen and Smith on the line.

Dagnall rubbed salt in the wounds for the visitors in injury time when he was left unmarked at the far post to convert a low cross from Bradley Pritchard.