Crawley climbed out of the League One relegation zone after first half goals from Izale McLeod and Richard Wood earned them a 2-0 home win over Oldham Athletic.

McLeod gave Reds the lead after 15 minutes when he headed home his 20th goal of the season and Wood doubled the advantage 11 minutes before the break from close range.

Oldham rarely threatened to deny Brian Jensen a second consecutive clean sheet but the veteran goalkeeper did make good saves from Mike Jones and Rhys Turner.

Victory lifted Crawley three places to 19th in the table but they remain just one point above the drop-zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to fellow strugglers Scunthorpe.

The battle to stay up looks like going right to the wire with Colchester’s victory at Barnsley meaning just three points celebrate seven teams above doomed Yeovil Town.

Boss Dean Saunders made four changes to the side which drew at Crewe on Friday and Dean Morgan – handed a full debut - Morgan almost made a dream start by giving Reds the lead after just five minutes.

The striker connected well with a volley after controlling a cross-field ball from Ryan Dickson on his chest but Joel Colman pushed the effort around a post.

Morgan squandered another good opportunity when he delayed his shot too long after being set up by McLeod but Oldham were not able to clear their lines properly as Reds took the lead from the same attack.

Reds managed to recycle the ball and Gavin Tomlin sent over an inch-perfect cross which McLeod glanced into the far corner out of the reach of Coleman for his 20th of the season.

Oldham fell further behind 11 minutes before the break. An incisive counter attack by Lewis Young earned Reds a free kick 25 yards out when he was brought down by Mat Sadler and Lee Fowler’s low delivery was poked home by Wood from close range.

The visitors had been neat and tidy in possession in an even first half but were unable to create a chance of any note until just before the interval.

Lanre Oyebanjo gave away a free kick 20 yards out and Mike Jones curled an effort towards the top corner which Brian Jensen did well to claw away for a corner.

Oldham briefly threatened a comeback at the start of the second half and Jensen was called into action once again to turn a shot from Rhys Turner over the bar.

Crawley were happy to sit back and defend what they had after that and Oldham lacked the guile or urgency to break them down.

In fact it was Reds who came closest to adding to their lead with seven minutes to go when McLeod set up the excellent Lewis Young only for Coleman to block his shot with his legs.

Crawley (4-4-1-1): Jensen; Oyebanjo, Wood, Bradley, Dickson; Tomlin (Smith, 80), Fowler, Elliott, Young; Morgan (Edwards, 73); McLeod (Pogba, 84). Subs not used: Price, Cofie, Youga, Bawling.

Oldham (4-1-2-1-2): Coleman: Brown, Lockwood, J.Wilson, Sadler; Kelly; Jones, Mills (Mellis, 77); Winchester; Turner (Bove, 72), Wilkinson (Poleon, 61). Subs not used: Kean, Dieng, B.Wilson, Kusunga.