McLeod strike lifts Crawley

Izale McLeod hit a 78th-minute winner to end Crawley's run of four consecutive League One defeats in a 1-0 win against Fleetwood.

McLeod finished smartly following a defence-splitting pass by Jimmy Smith to give the Reds their first goal in four league games and relieve some pressure on boss John Gregory. Wasteful Fleetwood, now without a win in four games following a strong start to life in League One, missed a series of clear-cut chances and would have taken a point if Nathan Pond had shown more composure in front of goal in added time. On-loan Crystal Palace striker Stephen Dobbie sent an unmarked header wide from 10 yards following a cross by Matty Blair and Jamie Proctor failed to hit the target from close range as the visitors raced out of the blocks. Former Crawley man Proctor rattled the post four minutes before half-time and Dobbie forced 39-year-old Reds goalkeeper Brian Jensen into a low save after a sweeping Fleetwood move. Boss Gregory handed starting places to new loan signings Mat Sadler, Keith Keane and Josh Wright after last week's 4-0 thumping by Rochdale - but unmarked captain Joe Walsh went the closest for the home side in the first half with a header after a cross by Ryan Dickson. McLeod eventually broke the deadlock 12 minutes from time however, with his fourth strike of the season, finishing coolly from 10 yards after Smith's clever pass.