Latics brushed aside at Crawley

RETURN: Liam Kelly couldn't inspire Athletic to a positive result on his injury comeback.

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CRAWLEY 2 ATHLETIC 0

ATHLETIC succumbed to another tame defeat to a side threatened with relegation from league One, with a pair of first-half goals from Izale McLeod and Richard Wood doing the damage.

Ex-Crawley man Mike Jones, with a first-half free-kick, and Rhys Turner with a shot after the interval, went closest for Dean Holden's lacklustre side.

But despite the return of captain Liam Kelly, Athletic – as so often this season – failed to find an answer in terms of breaking down a packed defence.

Athletic made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Bristol City three days earlier. Out went injured trio Anthony Gerrard, Luke Woodland and Jonathan Forte and in came James Wilson, Kelly, Joseph Mills and Conor Wilkinson. Dominic Poleon dropped to the substitutes' bench.

The first chance fell to Crawley. Dean Morgan controlled a Ryan Dickson cross on his chest and hit a low volley which Joel Coleman did well to push behind down to his left.

The opening goal arrived after 15 minutes. Athletic already had a warning when Connor Brown blocked Morgan's shot but seconds later, the excellent McLeod got himself across his marker and directed a very well-placed header across Coleman and inside the far post from a left-wing cross.

From there on in to half-time, Holden's men had plenty of the ball in midfield but couldn't prise an opening.

The second goal came after 33 minutes. Lee Fowler's fired-in free-kick from the right, just outside the area, found Wood in a huge amount of space eight yards out and he hammered home on the volley.

Jones forced the only save of the half from Brian Jensen shortly before the interval, the veteran goalkeeper getting across his goal well to tip away a shot that was heading into his top right-hand corner.

Athletic started brightly after the break and almost pulled one back when Carl Winchester got in behind the defence, cutting back for Turner whose effort was directed into the turf, allowing Jensen time to tip over.

Morgan almost added a third for Crawley after playing a neat one-two with McLeod, the latter player's cross hitting his thigh before Kelly cleared off the line.

Wilkinson hit a volley a couple of feet over the middle of goal but even going to a 4-3-3- formation, Athletic couldn't find a way through.

Kelly smashed a 25-yard drive a few feet wide in the 80th minute and McLeod almost created one for Lewis Young, Coleman saving well with his feet.

Dominic Poleon threatened with one late burst down the right but in truth, the home side were rarely troubled as they claimed three valuable points.