NEIL Sorvel's second-half equaliser spared Crewe total disaster against Notts Forest, last Saturday.

Relief around the majority of the Alexandra Stadium was almost immeasurable when the midfielder popped up to head home Adie Moses' right-wing cross on 71 minutes.

With Forest currently clutching onto life in the Championship, it was a game Crewe couldn't afford to lose.

Despite a woeful spell in the first half, it was also one they could and should have won with enough decent opportunities in the final 30 to end a near fourth-month wait for the home faithful.

Let's hope they don't regret spurning them.

Back from International duty, Steve Jones was one of two changes to the starting line-up with Adie Moses slotting in at right back.

And early indications were fairly promising when Forest keeper Paul Gerrard had trouble parrying away David Vaughan's long-range effort while Jonah put Luke Varney's ball over the bar.

Former Jamaican international Danyl Powell got the visitors going with some crunching tackles in the middle and Forest started to dictate terms after a quiet 20 minutes.

David Friio drilled their first opportunity well wide on the half-hour but their threat grew and only a last-ditch block from Chris McCready prevented Kris Commons at close range.

Although there were no signs of Crewe wilting, another poor blunder had them trailing on 37 minutes.

A shadow of the star from last season, Ben Williams was at fault for Forest's opener as Scott Dobie's 25-yard drive drifted through his hands and into the corner.

Staring at a devastating result in the relegation stakes, Crewe's improvement was immense after the break as Forest decided to hang onto what they had and grew jittery.

Varney looked in when Gerrard fumbled Vaughan's half-volley only for the defence to scramble the ball to safety.

Sorvel was next to test the keeper while sub John Thomson came so close to an embarrassing og, almost slicing a tame cross from Jones into his own net.

Gradi threw Andy White on to increase pressure on Forest's nervy defence and the 6ft 4ins striker had the desired effect.

White laid the ball back to Moses who whipped in a perfect cross for Sorvel to nod home at the far post.

From then on there was only one winner with Crewe relentless but not clinical.

Varney latched onto White's downward header only to fire wide from 12 yards while the big man himself headed another opportunity straight into Gerrard's hands.

Steve Jones was denied at the death by a top draw save when meeting another fine delivery from Moses on the volley; Crewe had to be happy with a point.

Crewe: Williams, Moses, Tonkin, McCready, Murdock, Bell, (White 69), Lunt, Sorvel, Vaughan, Varney, S Jones.

Subs not used: Wills, Walker, Cochrane, Rivers.

Attendance - 8,458.

Guardian man-of-the-match - Neil Sorvel: Crucial goal, held it together in the middle.