Another frustrating day for Crewe Alex fans at Gresty Road (From Crewe Guardian)

Another frustrating day for Crewe Alex fans at Gresty Road

10:24am Friday 11th December 2009

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Crewe Alexandra 0 Lincoln City 0

SOMETIMES it just doesn’t drop.

Crewe threw everything but the kitchen sink to no avail against lowly Lincoln.

It seems like every time expectations rise a little, Alex fail to deliver in front of their home fans.

Dario Gradi’s men needed to build on something of a surprise win at Chesterfield.

Yet despite a dominant display, everyone left Gresty Road typically frustrated.

“I can’t remember our last 0-0 draw and I didn’t expect it with the amount of possession we had,” explained Gradi.

“But if I was manager of Lincoln, I’d have probably played that way and been well pleased with the outcome.

“If the play-offs are a realistic target then you would say we should be beating Lincoln at home.

“But we’ve got to keep this little run going.

“The chairman said to me when I took over that we had to stop losing games and that still applies.

“If we don’t lose the games, pick up a draw here and a win there then that is going to help and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Lincoln came with survival on their minds although almost upset the apple cart on a couple of occasions.

Ashley Westwood spared his teammates a nightmare start when he got a crucial block to Jamie Clarke’s early close-range effort.

Chris Herd rose high to head Cian Hughton’s in-swinging corner just wide as the visitors impressed initially.

But unchanged for the third successive game, Crewe found their feet and Donaldson was only denied by the woodwork after a neat one-two with John Brayford.

Lincoln broke up almost everything going forward, conceding an array of free-kicks that the Alex largely wasted before a welcome interval.

Joel Grant wasted a fine chance to break deadlock while Donaldson almost buried Matt Toole’s probing cross in a promising spell.

However, Crewe ran out of ideas midway through the second half and looked all too prone to be caught on the counter.

Jamie Clarke so nearly pulled it out of the blue, teeing up Eric Lichaj whose shot on the turn was put around the post by Steve Phillips.

Calvin Zola fired another decent opportunity straight at keeper Burch as the Alex laid siege to the Lincoln goal in the final 10 minutes.

But the visitors clung on and survived a last-ditch goalmouth melee to share the spoils.

Gradi singled out Walton for his part in the midfield battle.

“I am becoming more and more impressed with Simon,” he added.

“He was able to conduct the play.

“I was able to get messages out to him about what I wanted and I thought he was excellent.”

Crewe: Phillips, Brayford, Tootle, Mitchel-King, O’Donnell, Murphy (Shelley 80mins), Walton, Westwood, Grant (Moore 80mins), Donaldson, Zola. Subs not used: Collis, Ada, Jones, Clements, Worley.

Attendance: 3,632.

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