Both sides had their goalkeepers to thank as Bristol Rovers and Crewe shared a goalless draw.
Stalemate at the Memorial Stadium
Both sides had their goalkeepers to thank as Bristol Rovers and Crewe shared a goalless draw.
Home keeper Steve Phillips made a stunning one-handed reflex save from Anthony Elding 18 minutes from time to ensure Rovers kept a clean sheet, and Crewe stopper Steve Collis also played his part in the stalemate by stretching to keep out a late header from Jeff Hughes.
A first minute crunching tackle by Steve Elliott on Crewe's Calvin Zola resulted in both players being substituted. Zola was stretchered off and Elliott hobbled out of the game five minutes later.
Crewe had the better of the first half and Phillips had to save well from a header by Elding, who proved a lively replacement for Zola.
Rovers stepped up their game in the second half and Danny Coles almost opened the scoring when he struck the outside of a post.
The hosts thought they had snatched the lead when Craig Hinton got his head to Stuart Campbell's 76th-minute corner but James Bailey was well placed to clear off the line.
