Goals from Hakeeb Adelakun and Maxime Biamou saw Rovers down in-form Crawley Town for a fourth straight league triumph.

Adelakun’s brilliant individual effort gave Rovers the lead but they looked to have a mountain to climb in the later stages after Tom Anderson was sent off with 24 minutes remaining.

Deep into added time however, Biamou struck his second Rovers goal to secure a deserved three points from a brilliantly battling performance.

Grant McCann kept faith with the same side that started the win over Forest Green Rovers the previous weekend, naming the same matchday 18 as well as starting XI with skipper Richard Wood making a 650th career appearance.

The hosts showcased slick passing football in the early stages but it was Rovers who produced the game’s first opportunity. Adelakun showed brilliant close control to receive a throw in on the byline and ghost across towards goal before seeing a shot deflect narrowly wide.

Rovers’ pressing work forced another chance moments later when Owen Bailey laid off to Adelakun, who hooked a shot wide from 25 yards.

Ronan Darcy pulled an effort narrowly off target from the edge of the area for the hosts but Rovers continued to look the more threatening. Luke Molyneux raced on a fine ball from Joe Ironside before cutting inside and firing low, with Crawley keeper Corey Addai getting enough on it to send the effort narrowly wide.

Thimothée Lo-Tutala denied Crawley what looked a certain opener as the half hour marked approach. Klaidi Lolos was played clean through but Lo-Tutala raced out and made a smart save before Wood blocked with his chest as Danilo Orsi looked to fire in the rebound.

Darcy saw a shot from 20 yards deflect wide while Ironside failed to hit the target after meeting his own flick on with a volley.

James Maxwell flashed a shot narrowly off target via a deflection as he raced into the box before Bailey drilled well over from the subsequent corner.

Adelakun tested the attentiveness of Addai early in the second half with a stinging drive and the Crawley keeper pushed the effort away.

Wood made a vital block as Lolos pounced on a loose ball and looked to fire into an empty net while Lo-Tutala made an excellent save at his near post as Joy Mukena looked to strike from the subsequent corner.

Rovers took the lead on 57 minutes. Adelakun powered across the byline and lashed the ball into the far corner from an incredibly tight angle.

Adelakun was close to a second just after the hour but saw his placed effort deflect just off target.

Rovers suffered a blow on 66 minutes when Anderson was sent off for a foul on Addai on half way. McCann sent on Joseph Olowu to restore the back four.

Lo-Tutala made a comfortable save from a 25 yard strike from Crawley substitute Jack Roles while Harrison Biggins deflected a Jay Williams shot over the bar.

The advantage should have been doubled on 76 minutes. Substitute Maxime Biamou pounced on a slack goal kick from Addai but placed his shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

It was the first of several golden opportunities for Rovers to double their lead. Robbing the ball on half way, substitute George Broadbent raced clean through but smashed a shot over the bar.

And Bailey also failed to hit the target from 15 yards after the ball was played around the box.

Lo-Tutala kept out a low strike from Nick Tsaroulla as Crawley looked to pile on the pressure into nine minutes of time added on.

And the goalkeeper produced an even better stop to keep out a rasping effort from Tsaroulla before the game was sealed eight minutes into added time.

Biamou pounced on hesitation from Addai, rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net to secure an excellent win.

Rovers: Lo-Tutala, Sterry, Anderson, Wood, Maxwell, Bailey, Craig (Rowe 82), Molyneux (Olowu 70), Biggins (Broadbent 82), Adelakun (Westbrooke 82), Ironside (Biamou 61). Subs not used: Jones, Hurst.