Crawley are set to lose captain Joe Walsh for three vital games in their battle for League One survival.

Walsh was sent off in the second half of Crawley’s 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Whitehawk in the Sussex Senior Cup last night.

The centre-back was adjudged to have stamped on John-Paul Kissock while he was on the ground inside the penalty area.

It means Walsh will be suspended for three games with Sussex FA rules stating that the ban will begin in two weeks’ time.

That means Crawley will be without the former Wales under-21 international for the trips to Chesterfield and Yeovil as well as the home game against Preston.

Reds interim boss Dean Saunders said: “Losing Joe is all I’m worried about. The cup is not my main priority and to be honest we could have done without playing the game at all but losing Joe is a big blow.”

Saunders is unlikely to follow up his interest in Brazilian goalkeeper Evandro Rachoni de Lima and Australian midfielder Matt Fletcher who both signed on non-contract terms before the game.

The Reds boss did confirm he is close to bringing in an experienced player and admits last night’s thumping highlights how thin his squad is.

Saunders added: “Some of them had a chance to show me what they could last night do but it was like men against boys to be honest.

“Sometimes you learn more from a result like that than you do from cruising through 2-0 so it has helped me make decisions on some players.

“I simply haven’t got a squad. I have got to get some players in and I am close to signing someone in the next 48 hours.

“I’ve also got to sign a goalkeeper, possibly two, because Brian (Jensen) is going to be out for at least three weeks.”