David Artell felt a goalless draw was a fair result up against a well organised Colchester United side.
The Alex boss was honest enough to admit that his in-form team were not as fluid as they been of late and that they were not at 100% - but he was pleased that with the clean-sheet and obviously delighted that his young goalkeeper, Will Jaaskelainen, preserved a point with a fantastic penalty save in stoppage time.
The Alex boss admits that he was bamboozled as anyone inside the Alexandra Stadium after the referee showed a red card to the Colchester substitute Theo Robinson, but in turn pointed to the penalty spot following an infringement inside the Crewe box that only an eagle-eyed assistant spotted inside the ground.
On the incident that led to the late drama, the Alex boss said: “I didn’t see it. I didn’t think anyone did inside the ground except the linesman.
“I didn’t see it but if Hunty has pushed him and their lad has retaliated then the first offence will be a penalty. I haven’t seen it back on the video but I do know that the assistant was down in the corner and seemed to signal for a foul for us and then the next thing it is a red card for their player but a penalty for them.
“Will has a good record of saving penalties. He had a drink, checked the water bottle and he has produced a very good save to make sure we got a point. He did the business for us.
“I think we deserved a point. I don’t think we deserved to win the game and I didn’t think Colchester did enough either. In the end, I think a goalless draw was probably a fair result.
“We found it difficult to break them down and Colchester deserve credit for that. They came with something different and we perhaps didn’t quite have enough understanding out there to break them down. It wasn’t for the want of trying and the players gave everything but we just wouldn’t as fluid as we have been. We were not quite at our 100% mark but we were not that below par.
“I agree that we didn’t trouble their goalkeeper enough, but like I’ve said there is always room for improvement.
“Saying that we have a clean sheet and restricted them to long range efforts until the penalty in injury time and that is pleasing.
“I asked them at the end, was it a point gained or two points dropped and they were disappointed that we hadn’t scored or won at home and that is a terrific attitude to have.
He added: “I am pleased that they feel that way and it shows how far we have come over the year but I told them not to be greedy. You are going to have tough nights like these and we didn’t get beat. We remain unbeaten and it could turn out to be a good point because Colchester are a decent side with good players.”