Boss Mark Yates hailed a “magnificent” performance from his Crawley Town team after they kicked off their League Two campaign with a 1-1 draw at Oxford United.

Gwion Edwards gave Reds the lead 11 minutes after half-time with the visitors’ only effort on target all match.

Danny Hylton responded for Oxford nine minutes later when an otherwise solid defence were caught napping by a ball over the top.

Yates said: “I couldn’t have asked for more of the players. It is a really tough place to come and it was typical first day of the season weather but they worked their socks off.

“They were magnificent and their attitude was brilliant. It has been a tough summer for the club in terms of recruitment but I have got the most honest group I have ever seen.

“The only disappointment was that we didn’t see the game out like I thought we deserved. We switched off once and got punished but apart from that the boys nailed the gameplan and I commend every one of them.

“We know we need to better at certain things and have a bit more of a cutting edge but their attitude was brilliant.”

Yates was only able to name six substitutes after Bryan Van Den Bogaert’s international clearance did not come through in time but hopes the Belgian will be available for Tuesday’s Capital One Cup clash with Peterborough.

Simon Walton came off at half-time after taking an elbow to the head but should be okay for the trip to London Road.