Crawley Town went down to a fourth consecutive defeat in front of their lowest ever home crowd in the Football League.

Goals from Josh Windass, Matty Crook and Sean McConville earned Accrington Stanley a comfortable 3-0 win at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Reds’ hopes of a first home win of the season disappeared in a disastrous three minute spell before half-time when they conceded twice and had Luke Rooney sent off.

Rooney brought down Windass from behind in the area with the Accrington Stanley striker firing home from the spot.

Crooks made it 2-0 in injury time when he fired home from the edge of the area with McConville adding a third in the 89th minute.

The result left Crawley second from bottom in League Two ahead of their trip to rock-bottom Newport County on Tuesday.

Reds boss Mark Yates was able to bring back striker Matt Harrold following injury as one of three changes to the 4-1 defeat at Notts County.

Yates also recalled Simon Walton and Liam Donnelly and switched to a 3-5-2 formation following a run of three consecutive defeats.

The majority of the first half was non-eventful but it burst into life just before the break as Crawley imploded spectacularly.

Rooney made an ill-advised challenge from behind in the area on Windass to concede a penalty and receive an inevitable red card.

Windass converted from the spot and three minutes later Crooks made it 2-0 when he drove a low shot home from the edge of the area.

Crawley reverted to four at the back after half time with Harrold operating on his own up front and Rhys Murphy switching to left midfield.

Most of the second half was a damage limitation exercise as Reds allowed Stanley to dominate possession.

Crawley’s only chance came soon after the restart when Simon Walton’s first time shot from the edge of the area curled narrowly wide.

The visitors were happy to pass the ball around rather than push for more goals but could have had a third when Windass burst clear only to be denied by a good block from Freddie Woodman.

Woodman was beaten again in the 89th minute when McConville was allowed to turn in the area and fire home from close range.

Crawley (3-5-2): Woodman; Donnelly, Ashton (Young, 32), Bradley; Smith, Jenkins, Walton, Rooney, Scales; Murphy (Barnard, 75), Harrold (Fenelon, 75). Subs: Preston, Bawling, Henderson.

Accrington (4-4-2): Mooney; Pearson, Winnard (Wakefield, 25), Wright, Buxton; Mingoia, Crooks, Conneely, McConville; Windass, Kee. Subs: Barry, Procter, Gornell, McCarten, Bruna, Etheridge.