In a contest of few chances, Crewe Alexandra collected another useful point against promotion chasing Nottingham Forest. Both sides tried to play the game the right way but chances on goal were certainly not frequent and the best efforts came from distance from Crewe's new on loan signing Joe Anyinsah in the first half and Junior Agogo in the second half.
The Alex certainly deserved a share of the spoils and with a little bit of good fortune could even had nicked it, but that would have been rather harsh on Forest who certainly enjoyed more of the possession than the home side.
Crewe Alexandra lined up for one of their most high profile home matches of the season without the club's vice captain Julien Baudet (thigh), striker Nicky Maynard (hamstring) and our on loan winger Gary Roberts (Achilles tendon). Steven Schumacher was also a late casualty because of a foot injury, which meant a recall to the starting line-up for young Irishman Michael O'Connor. Former Nottingham Forest starlet Eugen Bopp was also drafted back into the side as a 'floating' forward behind Tom Pope.
Danny Woodards was also recalled the side for the unfortunate George Abbey, who had started the last three after Woodards had sustained a groin injury.
New loan signing Joe Anyinsah from Preston North End and Luton Town's Dean Morgan were both in the squad for the meeting with Colin Calderwood's promotion seekers. They were signed only yesterday afternoon and only Anyinsah had actually trained with his new team-mates. Morgan was named on the substitutes bench.
Despite the blustery conditions and cut-up surface both sides tried to get the ball down and play some football. It was fourth placed Forest who threatened first but Ben Williams leapt to collect a James Perch cross ahead of the Ghanaian International Agogo.
Anyinsah started brightly and was full of tricks on the wing. He also offered a real physical presence and will be a useful addition to our side as we enter the crucial run-in. An early cross from the on-loan Preston man was cleared. Michael O'Connor volleyed just wide of Paul Smith's goal from 25 yards out.
The lively Arron Davies went on a burst to win a corner and was then promptly booked for a trip on Byron Moore after the corner was cleared out to the Alex winger.
Forest soon took control of the possession, but the Alex players worked hard to pressurise Colin Calderwood's side and were doing a fine containment job on them.
Just after the hour an hour mark, Anyinsah was unlucky not to mark his Alex debut with a goal. Following a flowing move involving the excellent Danny Woodards and Michael O'Connor gave the new number 35 the room and time to get a shot off from 30 yards. He certainly had Paul Smith scrambling across his goal but it drifted just wide.
Five minutes later Bopp conjured up half a chance after coming away from danger and clipping an accurate cross into Anyinsah. He pounced on the opportunity sharply but credit to keeper Smith, who rushed off his line to foil him and turn it behind for a corner.
Crewe enjoyed a good spell as the first half drew to a close and the hard working Pope flicked a late cross from Woodards into the arms of Smith.
The visitors certainly came out the blocks at the beginning of the second half and centre half Ian Breckin shot just wide of the mark.
Crewe were certainly looking dangerous when pressing forward and a fine move saw Moore flick a long pass from Kenny Lunt into the path of the overlapping full-back Patrick Boyle. The on loan Everton defender whipped over a tempting low cross but it evaded all the onrushing bodies and it was a chance lost.
On 63 minutes, Agogo had the best effort of the entire match. His shot from 25 yards forced Williams into splendid save. The Alex number one pushed it behind for a corner. Chris Cohen's cross was taken in by the strong wind and struck the crossbar. Luck was a little bit on our side on that occasion.
On 68 minutes Michael O'Connor produced a superbly timed block to deny Breckin in front of our goal after Williams had done well to push out a cross shot from Perch. It was a great challenge from the young Irishman and prevented a certain goal.
To freshen things up both managers made some late substitutions. Ormerod came off for the fit-again Nathan Tyson and Crewe introduced another debutant Dean Morgan for the tiring Anyinsah.
Morgan didn't have a lot of time to make a dramatic impression but he had a shot deflected wide off of Wes Morgan.
Late on another one of our subs Ryan Lowe, who came on for Bopp, nearly found Tom Pope inside the six-yard box. Crewe had also had a couple of late free-kicks but nothing came from Kenny Lunt's deliveries into the penalty area. It was that type of game.
A point apiece was probably a fair result and has moved Crewe into 19th place.
