<b>Full time Saturday January 26th </b> (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Full time Saturday January 26th

9:21am Sunday 27th January 2008 in Football By Dave Wallis

Match report from Gresty Road, Crewe

Coca Cola League One

Fulltime Crewe Alexandra 0 Swindon Town 0

Swindon were forced to play out the last minutes of this League One game with ten men when striker Billy Paynter was shown a red card, and a 0-0 draw will have done little to ease relegation fears at Gresty Road or improve Town's chances of a play-off place.

Crewe boss Steve Holland failed in his bid to sign Forest Green Rovers striker Stuart Fleetwood during the week. Sofiene Zaaboub was ruled out through an ankle knock for Town giving a starting place for Michael Pook, while striker Barry Corr started on the bench.

Pook lined up in an unfamiliar wide right position as Jon-Paul McGovern took a place in the centre of midfield.

In an uneventful first half Moses Ashikodi had the best opportunity to break the deadlock, but Town's recent signing and Lee Peacock seemed to lose their way between them and the chance was wasted.

On two minutes, Peter Brezovan blocked a Byron Moore chance and then reclaimed the rebounding ball from his attempted clearance, then on ten minutes Billy Paynter was unable to make enough of a good Miguel Comminges cross.

Ten minutes later Jon-Paul McGovern's cross found Lee Peacock in the penalty box but the player of the year couldn't find a clean connection and the ball ran wide.

With 18 minutes of the half remaining Jamie Vincent appeared to handle a ball in the box but referee Evan decided there had been no intent and waved play on, then seven minutes later Peacock lost possession in a dangerous area leaving Brezovan exposed, but the Slovakian keeper saved the day.

Halftime Crewe Alexandra 0 Swindon Town 0

A Paynter shot was touched over the bar after 52 minutes and ten minutes into the second half Pope drove a ball wide of Brezovan's left-hand post, but Town started the second period by forcing several corners.

Christian Roberts, a 61st minute replacement for Anthony McNamee, combined well with Lee Peacock and Moses Ashikodi before Jerel Ifil shot well over the bar. Billy Paynter then headed down for Moses Ashikodi who placed his shot high as well.

Then on 67 minutes from a Brezovan throw, Christian Roberts raced through towards the Crewe goal, an Ashikodi lay-off reached Jon-Paul McGovern but he fired wide of the left post.

Three minutes later Tom Pope ran down the right, and with Aljofree on the floor, Pope's ball ran across the box without an Alex man able to supply the important touch.

But with 17 minutes of the game remaining, Crewe midfielder Michael O'Connor fell to the floor after what looked like an innocuous challenge from Billy Paynter. Referee Evans decided an elbow had been used and produced a red card, leaving Town to complete the match with ten men.

Byron Moore's shot was then touched over by Peter Brezovan as Crewe looked to make the best of their numerical superiority, and from the set-piece, Brezovan blocked with his feet from a Baudet effort.

Slowly but surely the sting was pulled from the Crewe attack as the match descended it into a scrappy encounter.

With two minutes left Christian Roberts let fly but his shot ended up so high it left the ground. Then Jamie Vincent won the ball well allowing Jon-Paul McGovern to race on goal, but his effort was fielded by Williams as Town finished brightly.

Swindon boss Maurice Malpas was disappointed with both the result and the sending off of Paynter.

Fulltime Crewe Alexandra 0 Swindon Town 0

Crewe Alexandra: Ben Williams, Dan Woodards, Chris McCready, Julien Baudet, Pat Boyle, Michael O'Connor, Gary Roberts, Ben Rix (Lowe 86), Byron Moore, Nick Maynard, Tom Pope. Subs: Daniel O'Donnell, George Abbey, Ryan Lowe, Neil Cox, Steven Schumacher.

Swindon Town: Peter Brezovan, Miguel Comminges, Hasney Aljofree, Jerel Ifil, Jamie Vincent, Michael Pook, Jon-Paul McGovern, Lee Peacock, Anthony McNamee (Roberts 61), Billy Paynter, Moses Ashikodi (Corr 68). Subs: Christian Roberts, Barry Corr Andy Nicholas, Blair Sturrock, Chris Allen

Attendance: 4,344

Referee: Karl Evans