Reading...1 Crewe...1

ANOTHER Kenny Lunt special secured the Alex what could yet be the crucial point in their battle to avoid relegation.

There is often a touch of class to the 24-year-old's goals and this was one of his best as he curled a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner on 38 minutes, eventually enough for a 1-1 draw at Reading, last Saturday.

It was just rewards for Crewe who were looking to end a run of three successive defeats on the road and they made enough chances to nick all three points before withstanding a nervy final barrage from Steve Coppell's side.

Alex boss Dario Gradi decided to make four changes to the side that started against Coventry with Dean Ashton, David Vaughan and Neil Sorvel all back along with Chris McCready in for the rested Billy Jones.

Despite initial jitters, the visitors started out fairly comfortably at the Madejski Stadium until a massive setback on 10 minutes.

Dave Kitson looked well offside when he headed home Salako's left-sided cross but no flag appeared and Reading were in the driving seat.

Crewe did well to keep their composure and Lunt went close to a quick leveller as he blasted Jones' incisive ball goalbound, only denied by a decent stop from Ashdown.

On top in the possession stakes around the half hour, Ashton tested the Reading keeper who could do nothing about Lunt's blockbuster soon after.

Sidwell took the midfielder clean out on the edge of the box and both he and Ashton teed up the set piece before Kenny tucked it away in style.

With the Alex buoyant, both Deano and Jones had good opportunities to give them an interval lead.

Star keeper Ben Williams had been a virtual spectator after Kitson's goal but needed to be at his best on the restart, brilliantly tipping over Murty's cross-cum-shot and later keeping out Salako's bottom corner header on 55 minutes.

Kitson thought he bagged a brace in similar fashion but on this occasion the referee saw something wrong, ruling out his header after a foul on Steve Foster.

Substitute Morgan appeared a dangerman with his pace but Lunt was on-song in his advanced role, putting an effort just past the post on 71 minutes and then seeing Ashdown fumble another effort with Jones wasting the rebound.

The Northern Ireland international almost made up for it with six minutes to go as Vaughan released Ashton and his cheeky back heel presented the opportunity for a powerful drive, well stopped by Ashdown.

An aerial bombardment followed as Reading looked to capitalise on a nervy Alex defence but they held out for what could be a pivotal result with three games to go.

Crewe: Williams, Wright, McCready (Walker 90), Moses, Foster, Sorvel, Brammer (Hignett 79), Lunt, Vaughan, S Jones, Ashton (Symes 85).

Subs not used: Bankole, Higdon.

Attendance - 14,729.

Guardian Man-of-the-Match: Kenny Lunt - Trademark goal and looked lively in an advanced role.