Millwall...1 Crewe...1

A LAST-gasp blunder cost Crewe a superb victory at high-flying Millwall.

Dean Ashton's 58th minute strike looked to have secured a minor upset at the New Den until disaster struck in the dying seconds.

Tim Cahill punished a tiring David Vaughan down the right and whacked in a cross that Noel Whelan managed to connect with, the ball agonisingly just beating an outstretched Clayton Ince and finding the top corner.

The Alex looked more than good for all three points with an effective display against Mark McGhee's fancied side.

At this early stage, it's about positives and Crewe have performed admirably in their last two outings.

After the highs against Ipswich, there were again plenty of indications that the Alex can aim a little higher than some may think this season.

Netting a stunner last time out, Kenny Lunt turned provider with his free-kicks early on, creating two decent opportunities.

His vision picked out Ashton for a volley over the bar on 10 minutes and then another set up Foster for a strike just past the post .

Steve Jones was causing all sorts of problems for the Millwall defence after the half-hour mark and should have put the visitors in front after blazing past Lawrence but fired weakly at keeper Warner.

A strong first-half was almost wrapped up perfectly as Jones rounded an advancing Warner only to see his shot cleared.

Things had been quiet for Clayton Ince although he was called upon early in the second-half, tipping over Cahill's downward header.

Millwall had finally come to the party and were starting to find momentum, making Ashton's breakthrough perfect timing three minutes later.

Served up by an horrendous mix-up between centre-half Darren Ward and Warner, Deano pounced to leather it home.

It was a blow the home side looked unlikely to recover from as both Moses and Foster appeared on song to cope with the amount of balls being pumped up towards lanky Belgium striker Bob Peeters.

McCready, Ashton and Lunt all received bookings in the final five minutes.

Ince cooled it with another fine save but could do little to stop Whelan at the death, salvaging a point Millwall really didn't deserve.

Crewe: Ince, Wright (McCready 84), Vaughan, Moses, Foster, Brammer, Cochrane, Lunt, Rix, Jones, Aston (Smart 87).

Subs not used: Bankole, Bell, Robinson.

Attendance - 9,505.

Guardian Man-of-the-Match: Steve Jones - Created a glut of chances