A RARE scenario at Gresty Road yesterday, in that this was the first league meeting ever between these sides. They met 10 years ago at Elland Road in the FA Cup, when the evergreen Brian Deane was the scorer.

Leeds can count themselves lucky to have escaped with a point yesterday, although they blitzed the Crewe goal in search of a winner in stoppage time. An abrasive Crewe midfield, ably led by Kenny Lunt, caused Leeds several embarrassing moments and gave Sean Gregan an uncomfortable debut.

With Dean Ashton, Steve Jones and David Vaughan in form, Crewe made Leeds look nervy and uncoordinated at the back in the early stages. When Paul Butler’s misjudged header landed at Jones’s feet, he bamboozled his way past two Leeds defenders before laying on a fine opportunity for Ashton, which the under-21 international fired over. Only a quality reflex save from Neil Sullivan kept out a glancing header from Jones after Lunt’s free kick.

Towards the end of the half Crewe seemed to run out of steam, and Deane became a menace as the veteran’s runs brought Julian Joachim and Jermaine Wright more into the game.

From one, Deane’s centre found Wright, who hit the post. The rebound from Frazer Richardson was headed off the line by Stephen Foster.

But just after the break, Lunt’s free-kick left the Leeds defence at full stretch and Clarke Carlisle’s blatant handball was punished as Ashton converted the penalty.

Leeds stormed back, and after Carlisle had hit the bar, Danny Pugh forced his header through a crowd of players for the equaliser. Justin Cochrane, brought on at half-time, was exerting his influence. His sprint past Gregan and Butler finished at Jones’s feet but he shot straight at Sullivan.

Joachim was replaced by Michael Ricketts, giving Leeds a wealth of aerial power. With Southampton striker Brett Ormerod reportedly set to join this week, this will only serve to make Leeds a formidable threat up front.

Two minutes later, Vaughan found Lunt with a ball down the inside left. The Crewe captain passed the ball to Jones, who beat Sullivan with a well-taken shot.

Leeds threw their full armoury at the hosts. Lunt deflected Ricketts’ shot off the line, then a crossfield ball from Wright was volleyed into the net by Pugh for Leeds’s second equaliser. Suddenly Leeds snapped out of their reverie and saw the game as winnable. Stephen Crainey’s shot glanced past the upright and Jamie McMaster’s cross just failed to find a colleague.

STAR MAN: David Vaughan (Crewe)

Player ratings. Crewe Alexandra: Williams 6, Walker 6, Lunt 8, Moses 6, Foster 7, Sorvel 6, S Jones 7, Ashton 8 (Higden 86min, 6), Vaughan 8, Varney 5 (Cochrane h-t, 7), Tonkin 6

Leeds United: Sullivan 7, Kelly 7, Crainey 7, Carlisle 6, Butler 6, Wright 7, Gregan 6, Joachim 6 (Ricketts 69min, 6), Pugh 8, Richardson 7 (McMaster 85min, 7), Deane 8

Scorers: Crewe Alexandra: Ashton 48, S Jones 83

Leeds United: Pugh 53, 89

Referee: P Joslin

Attendance: 9,095

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