Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 0, Colchester United 0.
Crewe Alexandra 0-0 Colchester United
- From the section League Two
Frank Nouble missed a stoppage-time penalty as Colchester wasted the chance to end League Two leaders Crewe's unbeaten run, which now stretches to seven league games after a goalless draw at Gresty Road.
The U's finished the game with 10 men as substitute Theo Robinson was sent-off late on following an off-the-ball incident involving Crewe's Nicky Hunt after the penalty was awarded.
Colchester wasted two good chances to take a first-half lead.
First Nouble completely miscued as he attempted to apply a close-range finish to Luke Norris' cross. Then minutes later, Norris was put through on goal but the frontman's shot failed to trouble goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen.
Crewe dominated possession and Owen Dale was an outlet on the right flank with several of his dangerous crosses flying across the visitors' box only to fail to get a finishing touch.
But the Railwaymen's only true effort in the first half was a tame shot from Ryan Wintle which the midfielder skewed wide.
Nouble's shooting was much improved when he let fly from 20 yards in the closing minutes only to be denied by a flying save from Jaaskelainen.
But he failed to show his marksmanship from 12 yards after he drew a stoppage-time penalty from a foul by Hunt.
Referee Adam Haines sent off Colchester's Robinson for an off-the-ball incident before Nouble had his spot-kick saved superbly by Jaaskelainen in the sixth minute of added time.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Crewe
- 1Jaaskelainen
- 2Ng
- 15HuntBooked at 90mins
- 6Nolan
- 3PickeringBooked at 80mins
- 12GreenSubstituted forJonesat 68'minutes
- 4Wintle
- 16LoweryBooked at 71mins
- 19DaleSubstituted forAinleyat 78'minutes
- 9PorterSubstituted forAneneat 82'minutes
- 10Kirk
Substitutes
- 8Jones
- 11Ainley
- 13Richards
- 14Finney
- 17Anene
- 23Johnson
- 25Adebisi
Colchester
- 1Gerken
- 2Jackson
- 18EastmanBooked at 83mins
- 5Prosser
- 3Bramall
- 24Stevenson
- 14ComleyBooked at 45mins
- 7SeniorSubstituted forHarriottat 84'minutes
- 49PokuSubstituted forGambinat 69'minutes
- 45Nouble
- 9NorrisSubstituted forRobinsonat 90+2'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Lapslie
- 6Sowunmi
- 13Robinson
- 15Harriott
- 21Clampin
- 26Gambin
- 29Ross
- Referee:
- Andy Haines
- Attendance:
- 3,659
Match Stats
Home TeamCreweAway TeamColchester
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 0, Colchester United 0.
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Will Jaaskelainen.
Penalty saved! Frank Nouble (Colchester United) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Nicky Hunt (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Dismissal
Theo Robinson (Colchester United) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Penalty conceded by Nicky Hunt (Crewe Alexandra) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Colchester United. Frank Nouble draws a foul in the penalty area.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Theo Robinson replaces Luke Norris.
Attempt blocked. Luke Gambin (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Harriott.
Attempt saved. Frank Nouble (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Eddie Nolan.
Foul by Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra).
Frank Nouble (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Callum Harriott replaces Courtney Senior.
Booking
Tom Eastman (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Chuma Anene replaces Chris Porter.
Booking
Harry Pickering (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Harry Pickering (Crewe Alexandra).
Courtney Senior (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Luke Gambin (Colchester United).
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Callum Ainley replaces Owen Dale.
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Luke Prosser.
Attempt missed. Owen Dale (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Perry Ng.
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Eddie Nolan.
Booking
Tommy Lowery (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Tommy Lowery (Crewe Alexandra).
Ryan Jackson (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Luke Gambin replaces Kwame Poku.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. James Jones replaces Paul Green.
Attempt missed. Ryan Wintle (Crewe Alexandra) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Charlie Kirk.
Attempt missed. Owen Dale (Crewe Alexandra) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Charlie Kirk.
Foul by Perry Ng (Crewe Alexandra).
Brandon Comley (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Crewe Alexandra. Tommy Lowery tries a through ball, but Owen Dale is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Kwame Poku (Colchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Jackson.
Attempt missed. Cohen Bramall (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Frank Nouble.
Perry Ng (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Frank Nouble (Colchester United).
