SWINDON Town’s winless away run stretched to a fourth game in a goalless draw at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

The result sees Mark Cooper’s side drop to fourth in the League One table after being leapfrogged by Preston, although they are actually closer to the automatic promotion places following a defeat for second-placed MK Dons at Coventry.

Although there was plenty of excitement at Gresty Road, quality chances were at a premium.

Town did have the ball in the net though Jordan Turnbull in the first half, although the defender’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Both teams finished the game with ten men as Town’s Jack Stephens and Crewe’s Alan Tate were dismissed for second bookable offences, and there was more bad news for the visitors in the shape of a nasty looking injury to Louis Thompson, who left the field on a stretcher after suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder.

Town shaded the opening exchanges but were restricted to long-range efforts through Massimo Luongo and Louis Thompson, while at the other end, Crewe’s Oliver Turton proved a real handful for the visiting defence.

Once both sides had settled, Swindon fashioned the best chance midway through the first period when Swindon skipper Nathan Thompson found himself in an unusual position on the right wing. He did really well to pull the ball back into the six-yard box but Michael Smith diverted his shot the wrong side of the post.

Crewe responded and a free-kick on the right of the Town box led to their best opening. The set-piece led to a scramble in the box and the ball eventually found Greg Leigh but his deflected shot through a crowd of bodies was superbly stopped by the diving Wes Foderingham.

Town did have the ball in the net seven minutes before the break but were denied the opener by the linesman’s flag. The ball fell to Ben Gladwin following a corner and his shot was spilled by keeper Paul Rachubka, with Turnbull the quickest to react to bundle home but the defender was in an offside position.

The visitors then had two more good chances just before the break. Nathan Byrne cut the ball back to the unmarked Andy Williams but his shot was blocked by George Ray on the line and although the ball fell to Gladwin, his follow-up strike was deflected wide.

The second half started scrappily, with more cards than chances, and it needed a timely clearance to kick the game into life. Nathan Thompson was unable to clear a Crewe cross properly and the ball fell to Greg Leigh but Turnbull got back well to hook away the goalbound cross-cum-shot.

Town were again fortunate to survive soon afterwards when Nicky Ajose caught the defence napping, with the home striker lashing over the bar after sneaking into the box.

And things took another turn away from Town with 20 minutes to play when midfielder Louis Thompson had to be helped from the field on a stretcher after suffering what looked a suspected dislocated shoulder in an aerial duel.

The setback seemed to galvanise Town and the quick feet of Luongo saw him fashion out a shooting chance but he could not quite keep his effort down from just inside the box.

Jon Obika then almost made an instant impact after replacing Smith but he was denied by a flying save from Rachubka after being picked out in the box by fellow sub Harry Toffolo.

But Town’s chances of a late winner went when they were reduced to ten men following a second booking for Stephens, and they were forced to survive a late Crewe onslaught, although that too dissipated when Tate was also given his marching orders.

CREWE ALEXANDRA: Rachubka, Davis (c), Ray, Tate; Leigh (Guthrie), Turton, Jones, Haber, Ness; Haber, Ajose. Subs: Atkinson, Inman, Cooper, Waters, Baillie, Stewart.

SWINDON TOWN: Foderingham, Branco, N Thompson (C), Turnbull, Byrne, Stephens, L Thompson (Kasim 73), Luongo, Gladwin (Toffolo 61), Williams, Smith (Hylton 85). Subs: Belford, Barthram, Swift, Hylton, Obika.

Referee: G Salisbury

Attendance: 4,781 (638 from Town)