CREWE Alexandra will be in the League One dropzone for Christmas after sharing the spoils with Shrewsbury at the Alexandra Stadium on Saturday.

On-loan QPR striker Tom Hitchcock headed the Railwaymen ahead in the first half before Jon Taylor levelled for the visitors after the interval.

An early injury to Adam Dudgale threatened to overshadow proceedings as the Alex player was stretchered off after a challenge with Luke Summerfield.

The hosts had failed to really test Chris Weale early on, but 21 minutes in Mesca Bangna delivered a ball into the six-yard box where young loanee Hitchcock was on hand to guide his header past the Shrewsbury stopper.

Taylor came close to levelling for the visitors before the interval, but Crewe keeper Ben Garratt was equal to his long range drive.

The Alex appeared to take the ascendency after the break when George Evans forced Weale to save, but five minutes later Shrewsbury found themselves level.

The Railwaymen failed to deal with a long ball forward and Taylor reacted first to level for the visitors in the 56th minute.