A Crawley performance full of heart went unrewarded as League One leaders Bristol City netted six minutes from time to win 2-1 at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

The Reds matched the runaway table-toppers for most of the contest but were sunk by a Luke Ayling header six minutes from time.

The result was cruel on Crawley who had drawn level through Anthony Wordsworth after falling behind early in the second half.

Crawley remain second from bottom, two points from safety.

The Reds made a bright start although there was a scare on 12 minutes as Lewis Price made a terrific save from Aaron Wilbraham before most people in the ground realised the offside flag was up.

However, Dean Saunders’ men were on the front foot for much of the first half and were denied an opener theeir approach play deserved when Richard Wood’s header from a Lee Fowler free-kick was ruled out for offside.

Fowler was running the midfield, threading passes and unlucky with a thunderous shot at the end of the half which struck a defender.

The visitors had not registered a serious attempt at goal in the first half but that all changed early in the second half.

First, Luke Freeman drew a fine save from Price at his near post, then the Robins went ahead – all within three minutes of the restart.

The goal came on 48 minutes when Crawley failed to clear their lines and the dangerous Freeman crossed for Aden Flint to rise unchallenged to head home.

Crawley responded well to going well and they drew level just before the hour-mark when Anthony Wordsworth turned well in the box to fire home from 12 yards.

The pace of the game had stepped up and Reds keeper Price clawed an inswinging Marlon Pack corner behind from under his own crossbar.

Mathias Pogba was next to go close, hooking a shot wide for Crawley moments before being replaced by Dean Morgan.

With six minutes remaining the Robins regained the lead as defender Luke Ayling powered home a header from a Freeman corner.

In stoppage time Morgan and Wood both had headed chances but Reds could not force an equaliser.

Crawley: Price; Young (sub Edwards 89), Ward, Wood, Bradley; Tomlin, Wordsworth, Fowler, Dickson; Pogba (sub Morgan 68); McLeod. Subs not used: Smith, Bawling, Anderson, O’Connor, Jensen.

Bristol City: Fielding; Little, Ayling, Flint, Williams, Bryan (sub Cunningham 90); K.Smith, Pack, Freeman (sub Saville 90); Agard (sub Emmanuel-Thomas 81), Wilbraham. Subs not used: Richards, Tavernier, Elliott, Wagstaff.