Crewe Alex - 1 Sheffield Utd - 2

A HEARTBREAKING injury time strike left Crewe shattered after threatening to pull off a shock win against Sheffield United at Gresty Road on Saturday.

Chaos reigned in the six-yard box as a desperate Alex rearguard tried to clear their lines defending a corner, with Paul Devlin claiming the vital touch that stole the three points.

Crowd favourite Rodney Jack gave Crewe a flying start as the Blades' defence was cut to ribbons after headers from Jack and Phil Charnock put fellow front-man Colin Little in the clear.

Little surged into the left of the penalty area and his cut-back to the penalty spot was emphatically put away by the West Indian international.

United were lucky not to fall behind in the first minute of the game when Jermaine Wright's corner floated onto the head of returning centre-half Chris Lightfoot, whose header was cleared off the line by David Holdsworth.

Crewe nearly doubled their lead when Mark Rivers raced into the opposition box, but Sheffield keeper Alan Kelly parried brilliantly and Wright's follow-up flew across the face of goal.

The visitors finally came to life as Marcelo put Andy Campbell on a run, but David Wright tracked back well to push the ball out for a corner.

Marcelo could have scored himself when he latched onto a free-kick from Bobby Ford, but his header was palmed away by the diving Jason Kearton.

Crewe continued to create the best chances and again came close when Seth Johnson's header rattled the crossbar and Little's follow-up was well saved by Kelly.

Then in first-half injury time substitute Kevin Street's through-ball found Charnock, who forced a great block from Kelly.

The home side again took the game to Sheffield from the start of the second half and Little nearly capitolised as Lee Sandford's back header failed to reach the keeper, but Holdsworth saved the day with a last ditch clearance off the line.

From the following corner Johnson's header was palmed onto the post, then Mark Foran's header was pushed over the bar in an outstanding display by Kelly.

But the visitors sprung off the ropes to equalise on 52 minutes when Marcelo headed a Ford cross onto the bar and blasted the rebound into the net.

Jack should have restored the lead when he raced into space behind the back four but his touch past the keeper was far too wide and Crewe were left rueing a host of missed chances which ultimately cost them the game.

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