Notts County emerged 1-0 winners after what turned out to be an ill-tempered ending to this affair at the Alexandra Stadium. Ashley Westwood on his return to first-team action was red carded after an injury-time clash with our former striker Luke Rodgers close to the Main Stand. After both players had scrapped for possession then they squared up to each other before others rushed to join in. They were a both a bit foolish but it looked to be only handbags and a couple of shoves.

Westwood was shown an instant red card by referee Sheldrake but amazingly Luke Rodgers was shown a yellow card for his part in the fracas. It caused outrage with the home support but after the officials' met for a deliberation, Rodgers was shown a red card too. He finally got it right.

It was an unsavoury end to the game and in all honesty the referee was central to the problem. He didn't have the best of afternoons with his decision-making and it spolit it.

Following a recent ear infection, Ashley Westwood returned to the starting line-up for the visit of Notts County. Westwood missed last weekend's 1-1 draw at Torquay but came back into the Crewe midfield for Steven Schumacher. Luke Murphy, who made a telling contribution as a late substitute at Plainmoor last week was also recalled to the starting line-up for the injured Byron Moore.

As revealed yesterday, Crewe also lined-up without their leading goalscorer Calvin Zola, who is still being troubled by the ankle injury that had came him out of six games before his return as a substitute at Torquay last weekend. With Carl Martin also serving the second match of his three-game suspension, there was a place on the substitutes bench for Danny Shelley, who has impressed recently in the reserves.

Both sides made a tentative start to the game with chances in the opening ten minutes really few and far between. Crewe's captain John Brayford volleyed an effort a couple of yards wide after some promising play down the left hand side from home debutant Chris Stoke and winger Joel Grant.

Veteran defender Jamie Clapham also shot wide of the target for Notts County before the game sprung into life. Luke Murphy regained possession for the Alex before feeding Shaun Miller and after he had tricked his way past Mike Edwards his powerful shot was pushed away for a corner by an alert Kasper Schmeichel. It was a wonderful effort from the youngster.

A minute later, Richard Ravenhill was booked for a late tackle on James Bailey in the centre of the pitch. The referee played advantage before pulling the play back to book the player for the offence.

Notts County had a succession of corners and Stephen Hunt came closest when he headed a Ben Davies delivery wide of Phillips's right hand post. Crewe needed to rely on James Bailey on 18 minutes though when he used his body to prevent Neal Bishop going through on goal. Bailey did extremely well to track the influential midfielder to the edge of our 6-yard box.

The contest was developing nicely with both sides enjoying good possession and looking fairly lively in the final third. Luke Murphy drove a shot just wide after some good approach play from Grant and the eager to get forward Brayford.

Notts County's dangerman was Karl Hawley, who was picking up good positions between our back four and midfield. One telling pass from deep within his own half so nearly picked out his strike partner Craig Westscarr but Phillips had spotted the danger to rush from his line and smother the danger.

Just before the half an hour mark, Murphy, who was a threat from his right hand side nearly reached a now shot from a Stokes cross. Both teams looked capable of scoring but it was the visitors who had the best chance of the first half when they were awarded a penalty in the 33^rd minutes. Stokes, the loanee from Bolton Wanderers was adjudged to have push Davies to the ground just side the penalty area and after a delay and a reaction from the travelling County contingent, he pointed to the spot.

His assistant who was no more than five yards away didn't react at all and the Crewe players couldn't believe it. Davies picked himself up to take it but his powerfully struck shot was brilliantly pushed away from Phillips for a corner. Phillips certainly has a knack for saving penalties having saved two at Chesterfield earlier in the season.

An entertaining first half came to and end with Donaldson going down under a challenge from John Thompson but on this occasion, the referee waved away our appeals. It was certainly worth another look because Donaldson would have been through on goal.

Notts County began the second half brightly with the lively Westcarr dragging his shot just wide before the deadlock was finally broken on 51 minutes. Stokes was guilty of conceding another free-kick in a dangerous area and on this occasion he and Crewe were made to pay. Clapham's accurate delivery was headed in at the far post by centre-half Mike Edwards for the decisive goal.

Things got doubly worse for Crewe five minutes later when Bailey was forced off with an eye injury. He had to be replaced by Steven Schumacher.

After a slow start to the half, Crewe began to enjoy good periods of possession. From a corner, Mitchel-King flicked a cross on but Notts County managed to smuggle it away from danger. Crewe were in-and-around the visitors box but Edwards and Lee continued to head away the crosses. To be fair, Steve Cotterill's side dug in and defended well throughout.

At the other Stokes got a good block on a shot from Thompson before he was forced off with an injury. Matt Tootle came on to replace him.

Crewe continued to press looking for an equaliser. Donaldson didn't quite get his pass right to release Miller through on goal but he tried to make amends with some forceful runs.

With 20 minutes remaining, Notts County introduced Luke Rodgers for Clapham. Being an ex-player who went on to play for Port Vale, he is never going to get the best of reception from his former fans.

Crewe certainly enjoyed the mass of the possession in the second half without really testing Schmeichel. Murphy was always prepared to shoot though and he drilled another good effort through a crowd of players but just wide.

On 78 minutes, Schmeichel was called into action though when diving at the feet of Miller. Westwood also had a goalbound effort blocked by the excellent Neal Bishop. It just wasn't happening for Crewe in the Notts County box.

With time running out Rodgers, who was caught offside a few times much to his manager's annoyance had a shot blocked by Westwood. He also had a chance to seal the win in the last minute but shot straight at Phillips. He should have scored.

Crewe were knocking on the door but couldn't find a way through to draw a true save from Schmeichel. Credit to Notts County for that too though.

It was a shame that an exciting game ended on a sour note with red cards for Westwood and Rodgers.