Ryan Wintle headed Crewe into a first half lead, but the Alex could, and should, have had the game sewn up with at least a further three or four goals before the Blues' Koby Arthur struck an 86th minute equaliser.

The Crewe performance was terrific, particularly in the first half, producing waves & waves of attacks with neat passing football from the get-go.

Perry Ng slipped a through ball in to Callum Saunders for the first clear-cut chance on 17 minutes to put the striker in one-on-one, but goalkeeper Connel Trueman saved well.

By the 25 minute mark, Crewe had another four great opportunities with Ainley's curler headed off the line, Dale getting down a left & fizzing one at the keeper at the near post, Udoh lashing a dangerous effort from the edge of the box & Nugent heading one over the top from a set piece situation.

But Wintle did make the pressure tell in the 26th minute, rising highest from Ainley's corner to glance his header into the net ahead of the oncoming goalkeeper for 1-0.

The goal didn't halt the Crewe onslaught & Udoh should've doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time when one-on-one but he fired into the keepers' legs.

Despite gaining some sort of a foothold in the second period to stem the tide, Birmingham were still on the back foot as Udoh, Ainley, & Dale had chances to make the game safe.

But the dogged visitors hung on & were rewarded four minutes from time when substitute Koby Arthur received the ball on the edge of the box & fired a superb effort into the corner for an unlikely share of the spoils.

Crewe: Richards, Ng, Poscha, Nugent, Pickering, Finney, Wintle, Ainley, Dale, Udoh, Saunders (Reilly)