The great escape is still on for Crewe after Gareth Taylor's double hauled them off the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship and to within five points of safety.

The on-loan Nottingham Forest striker did the damage before half-time against Sheffield Wednesday, who have been sucked back into the thick of the relegation dogfight.

There could hardly have been a bigger contrast between victory and defeat for each side at Gresty Road, with Wednesday knowing a win would have all but confirmed both their survival and Crewe's exit from the division.

The home team named the same XI for the seventh straight match but the visitors were forced into two changes, Jon-Paul McGovern handed his first league start of the season and Patrick Collins his first for a month.

The tension of a relegation six-pointer did not bode well as far as good football was concerned, and a pre-match hailstorm and driving rain made it all the more unlikely.

Both sides tried to adhere to their passing principles but it was a defensive error that presented the first chance.

McGovern beat Madjid Bougherra all too easily, cutting the ball back to Glenn Whelan, who blazed over from the edge of the box.

More uncertain defending allowed the ball to reach Deon Burton in the box but his finish only found the side-netting.

Wednesday had on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson to thank for stopping Crewe snatching the lead, his incredible reflex save turning Steve Jones' point-blank volley behind.

Frankie Simek's fine run and cross nearly forced home skipper Kenny Lunt to turn the ball into his own net, while at the other end Luke Rodgers had a goal ruled out for a clear offside.

Crewe's front three were beginning to make an impact and the move of the match put them in front, Rodgers racing clear and feeding Billy Jones, who squared for striker Taylor to fire into an empty net.

Bougherra should have made it 2-0 but his header from Lunt's cross was too close to Carson.

It did not matter though as Taylor struck again in stoppage-time, rising unmarked to head Jones' cross past Carson.

Brimming with confidence and with the pitch now bathed in sunshine, Crewe continued to push forward after the break.

Another Bougherra header, this time from a Lunt corner, was repelled by Carson, Wednesday clearly missing the presence of on-loan Manchester City defender Mikkel Bischoff.

Manager Paul Sturrock threw on top scorer Chris Brunt, who had not been fit to start, and club captain Lee Bullen.

But Crewe almost ended any thought of a comeback when Rodgers played in the outstanding Steve Jones, who scuffed his left-foot finish wide.

Wednesday could have easily been down to 10 men when last-man Simek appeared to bundle over Rodgers but the referee waved play on.

Graham Coughlan's tame effort summed up the visitors' finishing while Taylor continued to threaten, firing a Stephen Foster knockdown straight at Carson.

Bullen finally forced Ross Turnbull into significant action, the keeper palming his rising drive behind.

It seemed to spark Wednesday to life, Crewe surviving a penalty shout when Burton went down under contact from Bougherra.

At the other end, Coughlan's last-ditch tackle on Rodgers was deemed clean, much to the fury of the home fans.

Despite late Wednesday pressure, in which Turnbull got the better of Burton one on one, Crewe held firm to claim back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.

Teams

Crewe Turnbull, Otsemobor, Bougherra, Foster, Billy Jones,Lunt, Grant, Bell, Taylor, Rodgers (Varney 89), Steve Jones.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Vaughan, McCready, O'Connor.

Booked: Lunt, Bell.

Goals: Taylor 31, 45.

Sheff Wed Carson, Simek, Coughlan, Collins, Hills,McGovern (Bullen 54), Folly, Whelan (Brunt 54),O'Brien (Best 76), Burton, Tudgay.

Subs Not Used: Adamson, MacLean.

Booked: Collins, Whelan.

Att: 8,007

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).