Kolinko's brilliance keeps Crewe in trouble

Crewe remain deep in First Division relegation trouble after being held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace in a game they dominated at Gresty Road yesterday.

Dario Gradi made three changes to his starting line-up after Thursday's 2-0 defeat at Wimbledon had extended Crewe's run of games without a win to eight. Efe Sodje, Shaun Smith and Rodney Jack came in for Steve Foster, Steve Macauley and Phil Charnock, and it was two of the recalled players who almost combined to open the scoring after just two minutes.

From Smith's corner Sodje rose highest to power in a header from six yards. Alex Kolinko, back in the Palace goal after Matt Clarke was ruled out with an eye injury, reacted smartly to parry the Nigerian's header and Dave Walton blazed the follow-up over the crossbar.

Dean Ashton, playing through the pain barrier by delaying the exploratory operation needed on his knee, was next to test Kolinko, the Latvian goalkeeper blocking his six-yard effort after another early corner.

Palace, in the middle of a bad run after one win in seven, gradually came out of their shell and Clinton Morrison had their first attempt at goal after 16 minutes. The Republic of Ireland international was just wide with a right-footed volley from the edge of the area after Julian Gray's corner was half-cleared.

It was Crewe who were showing the most desire, and Rob Hulse went close to opening the scoring with a brilliant header from Kenny Lunt's cross on the half hour, Kolinko doing well again to parry.

As half-time approached Jack went close with a brilliant shot from distance which shaved the bar, but, despite dominating the opening half, Crewe almost went in a goal down. Two minutes before half-time Ade Akinbiyi got on the end of Gray's inswinging corner but saw his header rebound off the woodwork.

Trevor Francis reacted to seeing his team outplayed by taking off striker Morrison at half-time and reinforcing the midfield with Tommy Black.

However, it was much of the same early in the second half, with Kolinko producing another fine save to deny Crewe. From another Smith corner, Sodje again got up highest to head the ball goalwards, only for Kolinko to tip the ball round the post.

With the extra man in midfield, Palace gradually took control and Black and Dougie Freedman were only narrowly off target with curled shots from the edge of the penalty area. Despite a succession of corners, Crewe could not score, settling instead for a point which leaves them second bottom of the First Division.

Crewe Alexandra: Bankole; Wright, Walton, Sodje (Foster, 83), Smith, Sorvel, Lunt, Whalley (Vaughan, 83), Jack, Hulse, Ashton. Substitutes not used: Ince (gk), Steve Jones, Collins.

Crystal Palace: Kolinko; Austin, Mullins, Granville, Fleming, Riihilahti, Thomson (Rodger, 36), Gray, Freedman, Morrison (Black, 45), Akinbiyi (Frampton, 90).

Substitutes not used: Carasso (gk), Rubins.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).

Booked: Crewe: Ashton, Walton.

Man of the match: Kolinko.

Attendance: 6,724.