A spirited Crewe Alexandra were just four minutes and a further six injury-time minutes away from repeating our 2005 success at Elland Road. The Railwaymen had enough chances to win at Elland Road with Nicky Maynard and the on loan Gary Roberts wasting good chances to kill the match off. Maynard's second successive goal away from home just two minutes into the second half actually looked enough to record another famous victory in South Cheshire. But with just four minutes remaining in the match, a dubiously awarded free-kick led to Leeds grabbing a share of the spoils. Substitute Seb Carole crossed for Tresor Kandol to head home past Ben Williams.

If Crewe had gone on to lose this match, then it would have been awfully harsh because we played some splendid football and always looked dangerous on the break. We had to survive six minutes of stoppage time but deservedly held on. The referee even played over 8 minutes in the end, which enraged the Alex players.

Steve Holland had to make a late adjustment to his starting line up after Danny Woodards was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up after complaining of a tight groin strain. George Abbey was drafted into the side at right full-back.

Our former skipper Kenny Lunt made his 'second' debut for the club on the right hand side of the Alex midfield. As expected Julien Baudet and Byron Moore both recovered from tight calf strains to retain their place.

The home side were quick out of the blocks and could have taken the lead within the first 60 seconds after Fraser Richardson had nodded possession into the path of the Norwegian Tore Andre Flo. The former Chelsea and Ranger striker was prepared to take on Daniel O'Donnell on the edge of the Crewe penalty area but he couldn't keep his shot down.

From an early free-kick, well constructed to give David Prutton a free shot at our goal, Gary Roberts had to rush out to block it and send it over Ben Williams' bar. In search of an early strike; centre-half Lubomir Michalik then tested the reflexes of the Crewe keeper with a powerful shot from close range.

Crewe were enduring a torrid opening and things nearly got considerably worse when we temporarily lost O'Donnell after he was involved in an avoidable collision after a hurried clearance from Patrick Boyle. The centre-half needed treatment on the side of the pitch but resumed soon after until he got a bang on his nose about ten minutes later! Danny was certainly in the wars this afternoon!

On 11 minutes Leeds went awfully close again to taking an early lead after an acrobatic effort from their central defender Rui Marques. He was rather unlucky not to register his effort on target after being picked out at the far post via another Leeds corner.

Crewe had their moments in possession in around the Leeds penalty area, with Nicky Maynard rather unlucky not to pick out Moore inside a crowded penalty area. Soon after Maynard and his team-mates made a loud appeal for a penalty after the striker went down under a clumsy looking challenge from Michalik. The referee wasn't interested but the Alex lads were adamant.

On 21 minutes, Tresor Kandol again tested Ben Williams with a well-driven shot from distance. The Alex keeper watched it intensely before pushing the ball to safety and then getting up to collect the loose ball. Moments later Fraser Richard curled a good effort just wide of Crewe's right hand post.

Michalik was cautioned for a tackle from behind on Moore and Crewe's left back Patrick Boyle soon joined him in the referee's book after he protested against a foul he had committed against Richardson.

Just after the half an hour mark, Lunt nearly conjured up a memorable moment. The midfielder flicked it over the head of Michalik before volleying his shot just wide of Casper Ankergren's post. It was Crewe's first real effort on the Leeds goal and showed how dangerous Crewe could be.

Three minutes later and Maynard wasted a golden chance to give Crewe the lead. A well worked move down the left flank involving Moore and the on loan Roberts, saw the other Roberts make a nuisance of himself at the far post. He beat the onrushing Ankergren to the cross and after taking the Leeds keeper out of the equation; Maynard should have had least hit the target with the goal at his mercy. There were Leeds bodies back on the goal line but you would have still backed Maynard to have scored from there. He sent his shot sailing over the bar and it was no wonder he held his head in his hands.

Just before the interval though, the home side created arguably their best chance of the first half. The impressive Richardson made great strides into the Crewe penalty area and his intelligent cross evaded the outstretched leg of Roberts to give Peter Sweeney another free shot at our goal. Ben Williams did superbly to get his gloves on it and Baudet smacked the danger away. It was a wonderful save.

There was still time for Crewe to hit the Leeds woodwork thanks to a trademark free-kick from the returning Lunt. He curled it superbly and Ankergren was struggling, only for it to ping off the crossbar and away to relative safety. He couldn't have come any closer to marking his return with a wonderful goal.

In the opening couple of minutes of the second half, Crewe took the lead after Lunt sent our Gary Roberts racing through on goal. Leeds had tried to play offside, but were left awfully exposed by Rui Marques, who had remained in position. Roberts pushed the ball across the Leeds box and there was Maynard to shoot low past Ankergen. Roberts was injured in the process but was congratulated by Maynard for his brave assist.

After the opening goal, Leeds nearly fought back almost immediately. A cross from Peter Sweeney was headed goalwards by Jonny Howson but Williams was again assured enough to push the danger clear.

Leeds' new boss Gary McAllister elected to make an early substitute with the more attack minded Seb Carole replacing Darren Kenton. With the home crowd beginning to get restless, Richardson again tested Williams with a fine shot from long distance.

Some wonderful possession football deep inside our own half saw Crewe play some superb one touch football and it nearly resulted in Maynard going clean through once again. Richardson seemed to barge the Alex striker as he tried to race in on goal but again the official waved away his appeals.

Crewe continued to play some great football and with the pace of Moore and Maynard upfront always looked a threat. McAllister changed his personnel with Flo coming off for our former transfer target Anthony Elding. Sweeney also made way for Bradley Johnson.

Moments following the substitutions, Maynard was unlucky not to produce a better connection on a chip pass from Boyle. Maynard headed the cross into the air and as it came down, his skill still registered a shot on Leeds' goal.

With Crewe looking the more likely side to score, Maynard had a shot blocked and from the rebound Moore forced the busier Ankergren into a tip around his post.

At the other end, Prutton shot just wide from 20 yards, as the Leeds supporters began to make their feelings known. They increased the pressure and the Elland Road crowd roar inspired the players to a greater level. Crewe never looked too troubled though and looked like holding out.

On 73 minutes, Crewe should have killed the game off after we caught Leeds out on a quick break. After Prutton had over hit a corner, George Abbey sent a long pass upfront to release the on-loan Roberts through the middle. He was on-one-on with the Leeds keeper but after trying to slide it home, Ankergren got enough on it to prevent it going to 2-0. It was a fantastic chance and Roberts knows he should have scored.

He so nearly made amends with a wonderful pass to release Maynard but his firm shot was pushed away by the acrobatic Ankergren. It was his last contribution of an impressive afternoon as a knock on his ankle saw him replaced by Michael O'Connor.

With just over ten minutes left Elding had a sight of our goal but headed wide. With just four minutes remaining Crewe's resolve was finally broken but we will be unhappy with the award of the free-kick in the lead up to the goal. Elding went down under a challenge from Baudet but both players were physically pushing and shoving. It was harsh to say the least. After the initial free-kick was cleared, Carole whipped in a superb ball and Kandol rose highest to head home.

Leeds sensed a winner with Roberts doing superbly well to head a dangerous looking cross away. This prompted Steve Holland to introduce the added experience of Neil Cox for the excellent Lunt.

The fourth official held his board up to reveal six minutes of stoppage time. The referee elected to play over 8 but Crewe deservedly held out for a well-deserved point.