Crawley reignited their promotion hunt with a third-successive win as managerless Rotherham were swept aside.

Gareth Evans went close and Alex Revell struck the crossbar for the visitors in the first half, but that was as good as it got.

Gary Alexander's low cross was steered home by Billy Clarke, before Alexander made it 2-0 from the spot after Jason Taylor pushed Dannie Bulman.

Pablo Mills added a third with a far-post header from Scott Davies' corner.

Crawley are now three points behind third-placed Shrewsbury in fourth, and have a game in hand.

Rotherham stay in 10th place, but are now five points adrift of Gillingham in ninth.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Crawley Town boss Steve Evans told BBC Sussex:

"I thought the first half was as poor as we'd been for a little while. We went in at half-time and had to rattle one or two cages. They went flying in the second half.

"We over-ran them and Rotherham went home fortunate it was only three. Good strikers win matches. It's a good victory for us and we can only think about ourselves.

"We had some big players missing. Every week is going to be a big game and every point or three is going to be vital."

Rotherham United caretaker manager Darren Patterson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I am obviously disappointed with the result, but first half we should be comfortably three or four in front.

"We absolutely battered them, couldn't convert our chances and get done with a sucker punch. I am disappointed second half we conceded such a sloppy goal early on.

"We've come here to win, so we've had a little gamble, put three centre-forwards up front to have a go and we conceded another soft goal."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Crawley Town

  • 01 Kuipers
  • 03 Howell
  • 04 Mills
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 02 Davies
  • 06 Akpan
  • 07 Clarke (Watt - 83' )
  • 08 Torres (Cummings - 79' )
  • 11 Simpson
  • 15 Bulman
  • 09 Alexander (Batt - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Shearer
  • 18 Dempster
  • 30 Cummings
  • 10 Watt
  • 21 Batt

Rotherham

  • 01 Taylor
  • 17 Mullins
  • 24 Raynes (Cresswell - 90' )
  • 07 Evans (Grabban - 60' )
  • 08 Taylor
  • 11 Schofield
  • 15 Bradley
  • 18 Pringle
  • 26 Wood
  • 28 Cadogan (Hoskins - 60' Booked )
  • 09 Revell

Substitutes

  • 21 Warrington
  • 05 Cresswell
  • 04 Harrison
  • 10 Hoskins
  • 23 Grabban
Ref: Ward
Att: 2,766

Match Stats

Shots

14 16

On target

9 9

Corners

6 4

Fouls

11 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:07 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +2:46 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Cresswell joins the action as a substitute, replacing Michael Raynes.

90:00 +1:56

Shaun Batt takes a shot. Johnny Mullins gets a block in.

90:00 +0:49

Alex Revell takes a shot. Michel Kuipers makes a save. Outswinging corner taken by Danny Schofield from the right by-line.

90:00 +0:29

Scott Davies is penalised for a handball. Alex Revell takes the direct free kick.

86:04 Substitution

Substitution Shaun Batt comes on in place of Gary Alexander.

86:04

Josh Simpson fouled by Sam Hoskins, the ref awards a free kick. Kyle McFadzean takes the free kick.

83:43

Alex Revell takes a shot. Save made by Michel Kuipers.

82:19 Substitution

Substitution Sanchez Watt is brought on as a substitute for Billy Clarke.

82:19

Billy Clarke concedes a free kick for a foul on Johnny Mullins. Sam Wood restarts play with the free kick.

80:12

Sam Wood fouled by Billy Clarke, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Wood takes the free kick.

79:28

Unfair challenge on Hope Akpan by Jason Taylor results in a free kick. Pablo Mills restarts play with the free kick.

78:15 Substitution

Substitution Warren Cummings joins the action as a substitute, replacing Sergio Torres.

77:56

Hope Akpan takes a shot. Save by Rhys Taylor.

76:44

Sam Hoskins takes a shot. Dannie Bulman gets a block in. Shot on goal by Sam Hoskins from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

74:31

Lewis Grabban has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

72:57

Kyle McFadzean fouled by Alex Revell, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Michel Kuipers.

72:11

Unfair challenge on Mark Bradley by Sergio Torres results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ben Pringle from right wing, clearance made by Sergio Torres.

71:21

Corner taken left-footed by Ben Pringle from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Hope Akpan. Danny Schofield takes a shot. Blocked by Dannie Bulman.

67:47

Foul by Sam Hoskins on Kyle McFadzean, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

67:47 Booking

Booking Sam Hoskins goes into the referee's book.

66:10

Scott Davies provided the assist for the goal.

66:10 Goal scored

Goal - Pablo Mills - Crawley 3 - 0 Rotherham Pablo Mills finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Crawley Town 3-0 Rotherham.

65:40

Corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies,

63:01

Foul by Alex Revell on Kyle McFadzean, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michel Kuipers.

61:38

Corner from the left by-line taken by Ben Pringle, Gary Alexander makes a clearance.

58:18

Clearance made by Johnny Mullins.

58:18 Substitution

Substitution Sam Hoskins replaces Kieron Cadogan.

58:18 Substitution

Substitution Lewis Grabban replaces Gareth Evans.

58:18

Sergio Torres takes a shot. Rhys Taylor makes a save. Kyle McFadzean takes a shot. Corner taken by Scott Davies from the left by-line, Rhys Taylor makes a save.

57:35

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies from the right by-line, clearance made by Jason Taylor.

53:39

Scott Davies takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Header from deep inside the area by Pablo Mills goes over the bar.

52:58

The assist for the goal came from Dannie Bulman.

52:12 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Alexander - Crawley 2 - 0 Rotherham Gary Alexander scores a placed penalty. Crawley Town 2-0 Rotherham.

50:53

Alex Revell is ruled offside. Sergio Torres takes the direct free kick, Gary Alexander takes a shot. Jason Taylor concedes a Penalty for a foul on Dannie Bulman. Save by Michel Kuipers.

50:21

Shot from just outside the box by Alex Revell goes over the target.

49:05

Sam Wood fouled by Scott Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Pringle.

46:15

The official flags Billy Clarke offside. Rhys Taylor takes the free kick.

45:13

Gary Alexander challenges Johnny Mullins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Wood takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +1:28 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:45

Foul by Gary Alexander on Jason Taylor, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Rhys Taylor.

45:00 +0:07

Shot by Gareth Evans from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

42:41

The assist for the goal came from Gary Alexander.

42:41 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Clarke - Crawley 1 - 0 Rotherham Billy Clarke grabs a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 1-0 Rotherham.

41:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Wood by Gary Alexander. Rhys Taylor takes the free kick.

41:08

Scott Davies takes a shot. Rhys Taylor makes a save.

37:44

Corner from left by-line taken by Scott Davies.

35:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alex Revell by Pablo Mills. Strike on goal comes in from Gareth Evans from the free kick, save by Michel Kuipers.

32:27

Alex Revell takes a shot.

32:06

Unfair challenge on Scott Davies by Danny Schofield results in a free kick. Michel Kuipers restarts play with the free kick.

30:12

Gareth Evans crosses the ball, Josh Simpson manages to make a clearance. Kieron Cadogan takes a shot. Kyle McFadzean gets a block in.

29:24

Gareth Evans takes a shot. Scott Davies gets a block in. Short corner worked by Danny Schofield.

28:06

Alex Revell takes a shot. Michel Kuipers makes a save.

27:13

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Davies from the left by-line, Gareth Evans manages to make a clearance.

25:50

Billy Clarke challenges Johnny Mullins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Taylor.

23:20

Headed effort on goal by Scott Davies from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

21:33

Sergio Torres takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Alexander.

19:35

Billy Clarke concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Bradley. Rhys Taylor takes the direct free kick.

18:26

Scott Davies fouled by Ben Pringle, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Scott Davies, clearance by Johnny Mullins.

16:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Johnny Mullins on Gary Alexander. Billy Clarke has an effort direct from the free kick.

15:18

Gareth Evans takes a shot. Blocked by Kyle McFadzean. The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Michel Kuipers.

12:05

Danny Schofield gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Davies. Direct free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

10:45

Gary Alexander takes a shot. Save by Rhys Taylor. Billy Clarke produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.

9:44

Alex Revell has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

8:13

Foul by Pablo Mills on Alex Revell, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ben Pringle.

5:30

Jason Taylor takes a shot. Blocked by Pablo Mills.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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