- Railwaymen rise to third in table
- Adebisi hits the winning goal
- Second consecutive clean sheet
Rio Adebisi’s second-half strike was enough to earn Crewe Alexandra all three points at Mornflake Stadium.
The defender guided home his third of the season on 61 minutes; and a second consecutive clean sheet sunk Crawley Town.
Elliott Nevitt and Shilow Tracey also went close to scoring, but only one goal was needed to lift Lee Bell’s side into the automatic promotion places.
Now they will rest up and prepare for a huge game at leaders Stockport County on Tuesday.
Bell made three changes to the side that drew at Tranmere last time out.
Matus Holicek was handed his first start since early October in place of Christopher Long, who picked up an injury in midweek.
Harvey Davies replaced in the injured Tom Booth between the sticks, and Ryan Cooney replaced Lewis Billington, who dropped to the bench, in defence.
Crawley started with Laurence Maguire, brother of Manchester United and England man Harry, at the heart of their defence.
Captain Luke Offord screwed a shot wide, and Elliott Nevitt saw an effort deflected for a corner, as the Alex got on the front foot.
Davies twice got down well to hold Adam Campbell strikes as the visitors looked to break the deadlock but, overall, goalmouth action was at a premium.
On 37 minutes Aaron Rowe got down the right and pulled back for Nevitt who whacked the outside of the post with a fierce shot from an angle.
And on the stroke of half time, Nevitt arrived onto a deep cross from the left but could only head into the side netting from close range.
On 55 minutes Billington, on for Cooney, crossed from the right and Rio Adebisi headed narrowly over.
But the breakthrough arrived just after the hour mark after good work down the right by Connor Thomas paved the way for Adebisi to steer home first-time.
Shilow Tracey raced through and fired wide as the hosts looked to double their advantage.
Sub Ronan Darcy whistled one wide from 20 yards as the clock ticked down, but the Alex defence was resolute.
Crewe (4-2-3-1): Davies; Cooney (Billington, 46), Demetriou, Turns, Adebisi; Offord, Thomas; Rowe (Austerfield, 81), Holicek (Leigh, 69), Tracey (Kirk, 69), Nevitt (Baker-Richardson, 69).
Subs not used: Westwood, Agius.
Booked: Rowe, Cooney, Offord, Leigh
Crawley (3-4-3): Addai; Ransom, Conroy, Maguire; Tsaroulla (Adeyemo, 75), Wright, L Kelly, Forster (J Kelly, 70); Lolos, Orsi, Campbell (Darcy, 70).
Subs not used: Sandford, Gordon, Roles, Olagunju.
Booked: Campbell, Addai
Referee: M Coy.
Attendance: 4,189 (118).