Luke Rodgers' late equaliser earned relegation-threatened Crewe a point against a Southampton side happy to leave with a draw.

Grzegorz Rasiak hit the post in the early stages for the Saints but after the break turned provider as he set up on-loan Denmark international Peter Madsen's first goal for the club.

Desperate Crewe, who saw Gareth Taylor miss a glorious first-half chance, got his side back on level terms in the 78th minute with a composed Rodgers finish but they could not find a second.

The hosts have improved in recent weeks but have drawn three of the last five matches, having lost just once, and need to start winning to stand a chance of survival.

Southampton, now four unbeaten in the league, continue to prove inconsistent under George Burley and could have wrapped the game up before Rodgers' leveller.

Following an uneventful opening 10 minutes Rasiak was not penalised for a blatant handball which controlled a Peter Madsen cross but could not get a shot away.

However, the Pole then began to show his class, firstly with a lob that looped just wide of Ross Turnbull's goal then a first-time half-volley as he chased Andrew Surman's through-ball, which bounced back off the bar.

Rasiak also headed straight at Turnbull as the visitors continued to control the game.

Taylor then missed Crewe's first decent chance, despite getting two bites at it.

The on-loan Nottingham Forest targetman sprang the Saints' offside trap but failed to convert, shooting straight at goalkeeper Paul Smith and then failing to hit the target from six yards with the rebound.

There were few chances, with Rodgers firing straight at Smith, but both sides were playing plenty of neat, positive football.

Then, in the 35th minute, Madjid Bougherra, the Algerian who has impressed at the back for the Alex in recent weeks, hooked off-target after connecting with Taylor's flick on Lunt's corner.

As the visitors pressed before the interval, Lee Bell cleared off the line from Dexter Blackstock's header but they went in goalless at the break.

The attractive play continued after the break but the final ball continued to be lacking, with Rodgers and Taylor both firing wide with hopeful long-range efforts.

Madsen had looked impressive on the right flank but moved to his favoured striker's position when Blackstock came off.

And in the 61st minute, a clipped Rasiak cross found Madsen at the far post and the Dane made no mistake to find the net for the first time for the Saints.

Once ahead, the visitors looked more than comfortable and substitute Kamil Kosowski almost added a second with a free-kick that flew just wide.

Alex boss Dario Gradi threw on David Vaughan for his first appearance in more than a month and the Wales international forced a low save from Smith at the near post.

And with 11 minutes remaining, Taylor hooked the ball over the top and Rodgers raced onto it and fired low past Smith to give his side hope.

Shortly after Taylor met Kenny Lunt's corner only for Jermaine Wright to block on the line, while Stephen Foster also headed wide as the hosts searched in vain for a second.

Teams

Crewe Turnbull, Otsemobor, Bougherra, Foster, Billy Jones,Steve Jones, Lunt, Grant (Vaughan 69), Bell, Taylor, Rodgers.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Johnson, McCready, Higdon.

Goals: Rodgers 78.

Southampton Smith, Baird, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Brennan,Wright, Chaplow, Surman, Madsen, Rasiak,Blackstock (Kosowski 55).

Subs Not Used: Miller, Powell, Dyer, Potter.

Goals: Madsen 61.

Att: 6,588

Ref: J P Robinson (E Yorkshire).