Leyton Orient’s hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a major setback after a 1-0 defeat at rivals Crawley Town this afternoon.

Fabio Liverani’s side created more chances in the first half but found themselves 1-0 down at the break after Izale McLeod scored a penalty for Crawley.

The visitors dominated possession in the second period but were unable to break the home side down as their hopes of avoiding the drop were severely damaged.

The O’s made two changes to the side held at home to Barnsley on Tuesday. Dean Cox made his first start for a month in place of Jobi McAnuff while Marvin Bartley was preferred to Bradley Pritchard.

Orient had the first effort on goal but Josh Wright’s long-range strike drifted harmlessly wide of the post.

Dean Saunders’ side created their first chance which fell to McLeod but the striker’s low effort flew just past Alex Cisak’s goal.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring when Cox flicked the ball on for Chris Dagnall and his low strike was parried by goalkeeper Lewis Price.

Orient found themselves in a decent position in the hosts’ half but Wright volleyed well over the bar from outside the area.

The O’s should have done better after the ball fell to Darius Henderson and Dagnall in the penalty area but Crawley somehow managed to clear it for a corner.

The visitors kept the pressure on and Cox fired in a fierce strike from the edge of the area which was tipped over the bar by Price.

Crawley were struggling to create openings but they put the O’s under pressure with a series of crosses which Cisak flapped at before the referee blew for a free-kick against the hosts.

Orient went close again when Cox set up Dagnall but his effort was blocked by Price once again.

Town had another opportunity through Gavin Tomlin but his turn and shot flew wide of the target.

But the visitors conceded a penalty when Luke O’Neill needlessly challenged McLeod in the area. McLeod stepped up and blasted his effort down the middle for the opening goal.

The O’s created another chance when Henderson laid the ball off to Hedges but the midfielder fired high and wide.

Crawley nearly extended their lead through Anthony Wordsworth but his curling strike was superbly pushed round the post by Cisak.

The hosts were forced into a half-time change as impressive keeper Price was replaced by Brian Jensen.

Hedges had the first chance of the second period but he could only head wide of the target.

The visitors went close again through Bartley but his strike from the edge of the area was pushed round the post by Jensen.

Orient were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position just outside the area but Andrea Dossena’s effort floated over the bar.

Liverani made his first change midway through the half with David Mooney thrown on in place of Bartley.

This was quickly followed by two more substitutions as McAnuff and Jay Simpson replaced Cox and Henderson.

The fans cheered as Henderson made way and were clearly not impressed by the contribution of the striker.

The hosts were dropping so deep in the latter stages of the match as they tried desperately to hold onto their slender lead.

There were four minutes of injury time and Mooney was denied when his shot was parried by Jensen. The visitors put the ball back into the area but Hedges' flick was saved again by Jensen. 

But Orient could not find an equaliser as they lost a match which could prove extremely costly in their battle to escape relegation. 

Crawley Town: Price (Jensen, HT); Young, Ward, Wood, Bradley; Tomlin (Oyebanjo, 90), Wordsworth, Fowler, Dickson; McLeod, Pogba (Elliott, 61)

Subs not used: Edwards, Smith, Morgan, Bawling

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Dossena, Clarke, Cuthbert, O’Neill; Cox (McAnuff, 70), Wright, Bartley (Mooney, 68), Hedges; Dagnall, Henderson (Simpson, 70)

Subs not used: Sawyer, Baudry, Pritchard, Woods

Referee: Andy Davies

Attendance: 3,255 (823)