What the press made of the draw with one of the promotion front-runners

The Sentinel
A VICTORY on the final day of last season against Preston North End secured Crewe Alexandra’s League One status for at least another season.
This time Preston were Crewe’s opponents for the final game of the calendar year which marked the end to the first round of games this season.
2014 will be most fondly remembered for the great escape of last season where Crewe picked up 30 points in their final 23 games to stay up, rather than the beginning to this campaign which saw them endure nine defeats in their opening 11 games.
The draw against high-flying Preston was their seventh point in the last eight days against teams in the top half of the table, a run which had helped lift them off the foot of the League One table. This also came after good performances against Doncaster and Scunthorpe, a marked improvement on what had gone before.

The Chronicle
CREWE Alex picked up another precious point in their relegation battle with a draw against Preston North End at Gresty Road on Sunday.
The Railwaymen failed to make it five wins on the spin against the visitors, but put on a resolute display to take a deserved point from high-flying opposition.
After a quiet game short on chances, substitute George Cooper fired the Alex ahead from the edge of the box on 81 minutes.
But just two minutes later fellow substitute Jermaine Beckford grabbed Preston a share of the spoils.
Manager Steve Davis will not doubt be satisfied with seven points from the nine on offer from clashes with top teams over the festive period.
And the confidence and momentum they have built up will now be carried into 2015, as Crewe move up another place to fourth-bottom in League One.

Lancashire Evening Post
Super-sub Jermaine Beckford’s late strike spared Preston North End’s blushes as they drew 1-1 with Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road.
PNE dominated the game but the clash only sparked into life in the final 10 minutes when Crewe took the lead.
North End failed to take their chances and Crewe’s only shot on target in the whole game was George Cooper’s 81st minute opener.
But Beckford - who was dropped from the starting XI - latched on to Kevin Davies’ flick-on two minutes later to level the scoreline.