Crawley Town 1-4 Peterborough United

Michael Smith and Jon Taylor celebrate Peterborough's equaliser at Crawley

Peterborough United climbed up to second in League One after coming from behind to thrash Crawley.

Izale McLeod put Crawley ahead inside two minutes with a low finish.

Michael Smith soon fired into the roof of the net to level before Christian Burgess headed in Jon Taylor's corner to give Posh a half-time lead.

Marcus Maddison tapped in for 3-1 after intercepting a pass from home keeper Jamie Ashdown, before Conor Washington slotted in the fourth.

Peterborough remain five points behind leaders Bristol City, who beat Chesterfield 3-2 with an injury-time winner from Wes Burns.

Crawley Town boss John Gregory told BBC Sussex:

"The Peterborough third goal really killed us but the first two were gifts and the third one was an early Christmas present.

"We have thanked Jamie Ashdown) on many weeks for keeping us in games, but he made a big mistake today and the game turned on that moment.

"We contributed to our own downfall in many respects and we have played better teams than Peterborough this season.

"We did gift them the goals and I would have like to have thought that had we not donated the goals we could have made more of a game.

"It was a hard afternoon and harsh lesson for lots of our players. I certainly felt in the last few weeks we have got the quality to do something at the other end."