Chesterfield 3 Crawley 0

Izale McLeod had a goal controversially disallowed and Jimmy Smith hit the bar before Eoin Doyle changed the complexion of the game with the opening goal.

Two more goals early in the second half from Jay O’Shea and Doyle put the Spireites in control as Reds’ run without a win in all competitions extended to 15 games.

Reds manager Dean Saunders named an unchanged team with Dean Morgan, who was making his return to Chesterfield, among the subs.

Reds had the first attempt on goal, Anthony Wordsworth’s header was saved comfortably by Tommy Lee.

At the other end, Armand Gnanduillet hit a free-kick into the wall and then had a header collected by the visiting keeper Lewis Price.

Crawley thought they had gone ahead on 17 minutes when a corner was dropped by keeper Toomy Lee and stabbed over the line by McLeod, but the referee blew for a foul.

McLeod then claimed he’d been downed in the home box, but was waved away.

Luckless Crawley’s Smith hit the bar and then went behind: Doyle adding another to his personal collection.

On 34 minutes, Doyle controlled the ball, wriggled past his marker and slotted home a low shot.

It was a craftsman’s goal coming at the right time and against the run of play.

The opener filled Chesterfield with confidence and Armand came within a whisker of adding a second before the half-time whistle.

Paul Cook’s men didn’t have to wait long to double their lead.

On 51 minutes, O’Shea cut inside and left-footed a curling effort in from more than 20 yards.

Crawley immediately caved in and Doyle grabbed his second of the night.

The visitors tried to salvage some pride and almost scored, but Lee stopped Dean Morgan from close range.

Crawley: Price, Oyebanjo, Dickson, Edwards, Smith (Morgan 65), McLeod (Harrold 74), Walsh, Young, Ward, Wordsworth, Elliott (Bawling 65).

Subs: Bradley, Anderson, Tomlin, Dutton.

Chesterfield: Lee, Darikwa, Hird, Raglan, Jones, O’Shea, Ryan, Morsy, Clucas, Doyle, Gnanduillet.

Subs: Wright, Evatt, Humphreys, Banks, Gardner, Talbot, Dieseruvwe.

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)

Attendance: 5,329