Crawley Town 0, Shrewsbury Town 0: Reds draw a blank as relegation battle heats up

Colin Kazim-Richards made one change to the side that lost 3-1 to Bristol Rovers last weekend as Louie Watson came in for the injured Kellan Gordon.

Crawley had all of the ball in the opening encounters with it clear to see that Shrewsbury were content to sit in and soak up the pressure.

An early cross from Watson to the back post was claimed by the Shrewsbury keeper before a well worked move saw Ade Adeyemo put a ball into the box aiming for the head of Jay Williams but the cross was put behind for a corner.

Crawley continued to pile on the pressure as they looked for an opening and Forster had the Reds next chance just past the 15 minute mark as he looked to curl one past Cox but the ball was blocked by the head of William Boyle as it went behind for a corner.

A. Adeyemo blazed one over the bar just before the half an hour mark after some good build up play from Kazim-Richards’ side.

Forster did brilliantly to keep the ball in play with 15 minutes of the first half left to play and the Reds committed to the press, which saw them win the ball back high up.

Subsequently it opened up for a shot for the wide man Forster who drove one low which was parried away by Cox.

T. Adeyemo looked to get on the rebound but it didn’t quite fall for the Watford loanee.

Watson’s drop of the shoulder saw it open up for a shot but he chose to square it to T. Adeyemo but it didn't quite fall for the striker with just over 30 minutes played.

Crawley’s first chance of the second half came in the 57th minute as the Reds won the ball high up the pitch, which saw Watson slide in Lewis Richards who struck his effort low but it was straight at Cox - the Reds best chance of the second half.

Just before the hour mark, another efficient press from the Reds saw T. Adeyemo win the ball back in a promising position but he could neither find Forster with a pass or get a shot away.

Substitute George Lloyd fired over for Salop’s best chance of the match with 15 minutes left to play as Shrewsbury broke quickly down the left hand side.

With 84 minutes on the clock, substitute Ryan Loft shrugged off his man and got a shot off from just outside the 18-yard box, which bounced awkwardly in front of the Shrewsbury goalkeeper, who pushed it behind for a corner.

Watson had his effort hit the post in added time as the Reds pushed for a winner and that proved to be the last chance of the game.

Crawley moved up to 20th in the table now sitting on 38 points as Tranmere Rovers fell to defeat against Bristol Rovers.

Harrogate Town’s late win against Colchester United gives them a lifeline heading into the final two games.

The gap now closes to just two points between bottom of the table Harrogate and Crawley in 20th as the fight for survival continues.