BACK IN THE GROOVE (From Warrington Guardian)

BACK IN THE GROOVE

Crewe Alex - 0 Birmingham City - 0

THE Railwaymen's faltering survival bid was put firmly back on the rails with a solid performance to earn a goalless draw against promotion-chasing Birmingham on Friday.

On the back of two successive 3-0 away hidings, Crewe returned to their Gresty Road sanctuary to rock the Blues' Premiership ambitions and snatch a vital point that could easily have been three.

Mark Rivers' recent recall to the starting line-up may have raised a few eyebrows especially after the signing of on-loan striker Mike Newell, but he nearly silenced his critics in the best possible way, but was denied by the woodwork.

In one of his best showings this season Rivers nearly broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Seth Johnson's inch-perfect through ball left him clear on goal to beat the keeper, but sadly not the near post.

Rivers then turned provider ten minutes later when an Alex corner eventually found him on the edge of the box and his neat lay-off was met by a controlled drive from Phil Charnock which skimmed across the grass, again beating the keeper but once more firing off the right-hand post.

City always looked dangerous and created a host of chances themselves with their best of the first-half falling to Brian Hughes, whose blistering strike was firmly parried by the outstanding Jason Kearton.

In the second period the visitors tried to enforce themselves on the game and Gary Rowett's curling free-kick forced a quality save from the flying Kearton early on.

Hughes was again frustrated by the in-form keeper when his 25-yard strike was palmed over on the hour mark.

Crewe never looked overawed but struggled to create further clear-cut chances with only Chris Lightfoot's under-strength header from Shaun Smith's cross drawing a save from the keeper.

Kearton capped a superb personal display with another smothering save on 89 minutes and the home side clung on for a bonus point that couldn't have been expected after recent disappointments.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.