- Railwaymen take a point
- Three unbeaten on the road
- Bell’s men stay in fifth
Crewe Alexandra had to settle for a battling point on the road at Tranmere Rovers.
An intense, hard-fought game ended 0-0 after neither side could find a way to break the deadlock.
A creditable share of the spoils has kept The Railwaymen fifth in League Two, and they will now dust themselves down and go again when Crawley visit next weeked.
Lee Bell made one change to the side that lost to Salford, with Deadline Day signing Ed Turns starting in defence. Fellow loan man Josh Austerfield made way, with skipper Luke Offord moving into midfield.
Tranmere, who started ex-Alex man Brad Walker in midfield, were unchanged.
Keeper Tom Booth was off his line quickly to smother as Connor Jennings advanced on goal, while Elliott Nevitt saw a shot blocked at the other end.
It was a physical first 45 minutes, with the home side organised and discliplined, and always looking to counter.
Crewe bossed possession and picked up good positions but were unable to work home keeper Luke McGee.
Luke Offord and Mickey Demetriou made big blocks, and Booth was again bravely at the feet of Charlie Jolley to ensure it was 0-0 at the break.
Booth was hurt in that collision and had to be replaced by Harvey Davies at the break.
Christopher Long won the ball high up the pitch and advanced on goal only to be denied by McGee, early in the second half.
Long volleyed over after meeting a Demetriou cross, while Rob Apter curled inches wide for the hosts.
Bell made a triple substitution on 74 minutes and Courtney Baker-Richardson saw a powerful strike blocked within seconds.
The Alex, who had switched to a three-man defence, went close again when Baker-Richardson charged down a McGee clearance but was unable to find the net.
Walker drilled just wide deep into injury time, but the sides could not be separated.
Tranmere (4-4-2): McGee, O’Connor, Davies, Turnbull, Wood; Apter (McAlear, 84), Walker, Hendry, Morris (Hawkes, 77); Jolley (Saunders, 65), Jennings.
Subs not used: Murphy, Yarney, Lewis, Norris.
Booked: Walker
Crewe (4-2-3-1): Booth (Davies, 46); Billington (Leigh, 74), Turns, Demetriou, Adebisi; Thomas, Offord; Long, Rowe (Kirk, 91), Tracey (Holicek, 74); Nevitt (Baker-Richardson, 74).
Subs not used: Austerfield, Leigh, Holicek, Cooney, Baker-Richardson
Booked: Nevitt, Long, Thomas
Referee: Carl Brook.
Attendance: