Callum Saunders struck on the half hour mark after a pinpoint cross-field ball from George Cooper to give Crewe the lead.

The Blades equalised fortuitously just two minutes later after Kieran Harrison had saved the initial shot, but the ball still found a way to bounce in.

The wind picked up pace at half-time, forcing The Alex to play into the tough conditions second-half. Sheffield took over control and had good chances late on the snatch a victory but the contest ended level.

Crewe: Harrison, Baillie, Kearns, Ng, Bakayogo, Wintle, Howell, Fox (Ainley), Brown (Lowery), Cooper, Saunders