Nottingham Forest saw the automatic promotion places slip further from their grasp as a poor performance meant they were only able to manage a point at Crewe.
It was an uninspiring first half lacking in quality from both sides and apart from the occasional flurry of activity, Forest showed little flair and gave the ball away far too many times.
The second half performance was equally disjointed and Forest were unable to break down a poor Crewe side, creating only one good chance.
Forest started well with a chance in the opening minute although Sammy Clingan's effort from a free kick 30 yards out went straight into the arms of their keeper Ben Williams.
Forest continued to dominate in the early stages but as the game settled down neither side created anything and with both sides defending well there were no chances for either side.
In the 23rd minute Arron Davies made a great run past two players, skipping past one in the box before getting a shot in which was knocked away at the near post for a corner.
It was the half hour mark before Crewe had any sort of chance when new loan signing Joe Anyinsah was not closed down quickly enough and fired a shot which was only just wide of the post.
Forest missed a chance when Junior Agogo laid the ball in to Chris Cohen at the corner of the penalty area, but instead of trying a shot he spotted Agogo running in and crossed the ball back to him but it was a poor cross which ended with a goal kick for Crewe.
And Cohen made a good run before firing in a low cross as Agogo and Brett Ormerod ran in, but Agogo was unable to guide the ball on target.
Forest looked more positive at the start of the second half but it was the defenders who were creating the chances with Wes Morgan making a break and staying inside the box to pressurise the Crewe goal.
And when Agogo's diving header was blocked by a defender and fell loose inside the box it was Ian Breckin who got on the end of it and shot just wide.
But as Forest continued to struggle the welcome early return from injury of Nathan Tyson was much needed and he looked ready to come on but was then instructed to put his top back on and returned to the bench.
Agogo produced a great chance when he got control of the ball and fired in a shot from 25 yards which Williams did well to tip round the post for a corner. And Cohen's corner almost produced a goal as it flew in and came off the bar.
Forest continued to put pressure on Crew and Sammy Clingan's cross was punched away by Williams, but only as far as Breckin whose shot was blocked by Michael O'Connor.
Tyson finally made his appearance, replacing Ormerod in the 66th minute, although it was some considerable time before he had as much as a touch on the ball.
Davies had clearly picked up an injury, which he struggled to shake off, but rather than going down he stayed on clutching his hamstring while play continued and Lewis McGugan warmed up on the side until the substitution eventually took place.
With ten minutes to go, in spite of the referee waving play on, he then changed his mind and Crewe were awarded a free kick just outside the box. James Perch nodded the ball across the face of his own goal before Paul Smith was able to clear the danger.
Matt Thornhill replaced Breckin with eight minutes remaining although it was hard to see where a goal was going to come from and indeed Forest created no more chances before the final whistle.
Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Kelvin Wilson, Ian Breckin(C)(Matt Thornhill 83min), Wes Morgan, James Perch, Julian Bennett, Arron Davies(Lewis McGugan 75min), Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen, Brett Ormerod(Nathan Tyson66min) Junior Agogo
Subs not used: Matt Lockwood, Grant Holt,
Bookings: Davies 25min, Cohen 48min, Bennett 69min
Crewe Alexandra: Ben Williams, Dan Woodards, Chris McCready (C), Daniel O'Donnell, Patrick Boyle, Joe Anyinsah(Dean Morgan 71min), Michael O'Connor, Eugen Bopp(Ryan Lowe, 82min), Kenny Lunt, Tom Pope, Byron Moore
Subs not used: Owain fon Williams, Mark Carrington, George Abbey,
Referee: J Singh
Attendance: 6,314 away attn:2,246
