Wolves...0 Crewe Alex...0

ANOTHER battling display saw Crewe through to a bonus point against Wolves on Saturday.

But it could easily have been three if referee Laws hadn't waved away what appeared to be two blatant second-half penalties.

Nevertheless, the Alex enjoyed their best performance at Molineux since promotion and probably would have taken a draw before kick-off.

Despite a solid start by the home side, Crewe saw a great early opportunity missed on 8 minutes.

Rodney Jack beat the offside trap and was only denied by keeper Oakes who rushed out of his area to block an attempt with the rebound wasted by Colin Little

Wolves continued to dominate most of the play but lacked creativity in the final third while under intense pressure from a frustrated home support.

It wasn't helped when no-one followed up Proudlock's weak finish from close range as it trickled across the goal-line and came off the far post for Foster to clear on 33 minutes.

In form Shaun Smith almost made Wolves pay with a rasping 20-yard drive that shook the woodwork.

Oakes tipped away the left-back's wicked corner with Sodje ready to pounce and performed heroics to keep out Jack's long-range effort as Crewe finished the half strongly.

Again Sodje went close after the break with a pinpoint header that Oakes somehow managed to tip over the bar as the Alex picked up where they left off.

Slowly, Wolves re-established control of the game but failed to test 'George' Bankole as both Pollet and Proudlock couldn't put headers on target.

Alex fans thought their side had earned a spot kick on 72 minutes after a classy one-two with Little saw David Wright race into the box only to be brought down by Lescott.

With the referee not interested, the 'culprit' almost came back to haunt Crewe, hitting an accurate cross that Andrews looked certain to bury if not for the quick reactions of George in his only anxious moment.

Stalemate approaching, the Alex had a second decent penalty claim turned down by Laws as Ashton seemed to be tripped by Pollet well inside the area

Crewe: Bankole, Wright, Smith, Sodje, Foster, Lunt, Sorvel, Street, Little, Hulse (Ashton 88), Jack. Subs not used: Kearton, Navarro, Tait, Charnock. Attendance: 20,364.

Picture - Crewe's Little and Large combination kept Wolves' defence busy on Saturday. Photo by Steve Finch.