BEFORE Accrington Stanley travelled to Crawley, manager John Coleman confessed that he’d become “a grumpy man”.

Hours later, even the self-confessed curmudgeon couldn’t resist a smile after his team cruised to a 3-0 win against the 10-man Red Devils.

A third successive win for Stanley was achieved in some style, with three good goals against a home side clearly struggling following relegation from League One.

The Reds arrived in Sussex with injury problems after dependable defender Tom Davies was ruled out with injury and the new centre-back partnership of Joe Wright and Dean Winnard had to be on their mettle early on.

The home team made the best early opening, with the ball dropping to defender Jon Ashton in the box from a free kick only for him to snatch horribly at the effort and fail to trouble Jason Mooney.

If Crawley looked as nervous as you would expect for a side that had lost their last three games, Stanley appeared every inch the team in form, with Billy Kee testing goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, Adam Buxton inches from threading in Josh Windass and Matt Crooks forcing a good save with a low strike.

Coleman’s team looked comfortable and were rewarded a minute from time with a goal in what proved to be the decisive moment of the match.

Kee held up a Crooks pass to Windass in the area and he was one-on-one, only for Luke Rooney to dive in and bring him down.

Referee Andy Davies, already unpopular with the home side for only showing Kee a yellow for a tackle on Ashton, did his approval rating little good with an inevitable red card.

Windass stepped up to drill the penalty into the left corner for his fifth goal of the season.

The 10 men had barely had chance to reorganise when the Reds added a second.

It was a super goal, with Seamus Conneely finding Kee, the striker laying it off to Crooks and the midfielder lashing in an unstoppable shot from outside the penalty area.

With a half-time lead of 2-0 and their opponents a man light, Stanley began to enjoy themselves in the second period, with Woodman saving well from Windass as they looked to add a third.

Coleman had been enraged by conceding two late goals against Exeter in the previous win and his players looked to have heeded the message, keeping the ball and frustrating their downtrodden hosts.

The in-form Kee was looking for a third goal in as many games and was presented with a chance when full back Christian Scaled diverted the ball into his own area for the forward to pounce.

Woodman was equal to the effort, pushing it out well but it would prove to be just a rehearsal.

As full time loomed, the Reds turned on the style to present Kee with a deserved goal.

A Windass flick to Crooks had the small visiting contingent on their feet, he picked out Sean McConville on the right and the winger crossed for Kee in the area.

The former Burton Albion striker had his back to goal but span expertly and nutmegged a defender with his stabbed shot to make it 3-0.

Even Coleman had to admit it was heartening stuff as the long faces were reserved for Mark Yates and the home supporters.