Crawley remain outside the League One relegation zone despite a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to fellow strugglers Scunthorpe United.

Draws for Crewe and Notts County, plus a defeat for Colchester at Coventry, means the Reds are fifth bottom and out of the drop zone on goal difference with four games to play.

Captain Izale McLeod’s 21st goal of the season gave Reds hope from 2-0 down with 14 minutes remaining but the home side ultimately ran out worthy winners.

The Iron looked the hungrier side and carved out by far the more chances.

Having lost three centre-backs in just over a week, Crawley handed a debut to former Charlton defender Kelly Youga who recently returned from a spell in China.

There was a scare for the Reds in just the third minute when Paddy Madden teed up advancing right-back Jordan Clarke whose fierce strike beat Brian Jensen but was hacked off the line by Lee Fowler.

The visitors had a chance themselves on 15 minutes when top scorer McLeod’s shot was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Luke Daniels following a nice build-up down the left.

Ryan Dickson was twice tellingly involved as Scunthorpe took the lead on 19 minutes. It was he left-back’s initial mistake which sent Gary McSheffrey scampering clear and then Clarke’s goalbound shot took a wicked deflection off Dickson to wrong-foot Jensen.

Scunthorpe were good value for their half-time advantage, with Isaiah Osbourne firing wide and Kevin van Veen heading past a post.

In the early stages of the second half Jensen did well to cut out a curling shot from van Veen before the offside flag went up in the ensuing scramble.

Then moments later Jensen saved at his near post from Madden after good work by McSheffrey.

The Crawley goalkeeper also did well on the hour-mark to beat away a stinging 25-yard strike from Osbourne.

The Reds were under the cosh at that stage but they carved out a chance of their own when Dean Morgan’s shot on the turn bounced off the chest of goalkeeper Daniels.

On 62 minutes it was 2-0 when Paddy Madden pounced from close range after Crawley failed to clear.

With 14 minutes remaining Crawley halved the arrears when substitute Mathias Pogba dummied a low cross from Lewis Young and McLeod steered home from close range.

Now there was hope for the visitors but they needed another fine save from Jensen, smothering a shot from Hakeeb Adelakun, to keep them in it.

Crawley: Jensen; Oyebanjo, Youga, Bradley, Dickson (sub Edwards 67); Young (sub Harrold 88), Fowler, Elliott (sub Pogba 74), Tomlin; Morgan; McLeod. Subs not used: Bawling, Smith, Cofie, Price.

Scunthorpe: Daniels; Clarke, Canavan, Davey (sub Boyce 46), Williams; Osbourne, Bishop; Madden, McSheffrey (sub Lundstram 82), Robinson (sub Adelakun 71); van Veen. Subs not used: Syers, Evans, Townsend, Anyon.