Crewe gained another valuable point as they battle to avoid the drop out of Nationwide League Division One - but they produced a tame performance in a scrappy clash with Portsmouth at Gresty Road.

Rob Hulse scored after 36 minutes to draw the hosts level after Portsmouth had opened the scoring through Peter Crouch, who notched his 19th goal of the season after 23 minutes.

Crewe had lost four of their last five home games to leave them in desperate trouble and they struggled to create chances for much of the contest.

Portsmouth started brightly, with Shaun Cooper drilling a right-foot shot over the crossbar after just 39 seconds.

Leonardo Biagini then struck a left-foot shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. Gangly striker Crouch had another chance for the visitors after nine minutes, but his header from six yards was well saved by home goalkeeper Clayton Ince.

Dario Gradi received a blow before kick-off with the news that star striker Dean Ashton had failed to recover from a knee injury. Paul Tait took his place in attack.

Things went from bad to worse when the injured David Wright was replaced by Stephen Foster after just 17 minutes, while Lewis Buxton was booked for dissent for the visitors three minutes later.

David Waterman joined him in the book for a late challenge on Hulse, but Portsmouth then opened the scoring.

Former QPR striker Crouch fired home a powerful shot from the edge of the area after good work by Rowan Vine.

Crewe immediately tried to respond. But Hulse's right-foot shot was well saved by veteran goalkeeper Dave Beasant, and Phil Charnock was unable to defeat the former Chelsea stopper with a 25-yard shot as the interval approached.

But the Railwaymen finally levelled after 36 minutes when Portsmouth lost the ball in midfield. Crewe swept forward, and Colin Little squared the ball from the right for Hulse to tap home the equaliser.

Portsmouth boss Graham Rix replaced Biagini with Kevin Harper just after the interval.

Nigel Quashie drilled another shot wide as the visitors continued to create the better chances.

Crewe replaced Little with pacy winger Rodney Jack just after the hour before Quashie went close again.

The game was getting increasingly scrappy with a lack of real quality from both sides, although Tait did briefly threaten for Crewe with a header which went wide 13 minutes from time.

Steve Lovell, a replacement for Vine, then had a golden chance at the other end but failed to make proper contact with the ball from close range - and Ince was able to make a comfortable save.

Foster then missed a glorious chance when he headed the ball over the crossbar with 10 minutes left following a David Vaughan free-kick.

Teams:

Crewe: Ince, Wright (Foster 18), Sodje, Walton, Charnock, Little (Jack 63), Sorvel, Lunt, Vaughan, Tait (Street 81), Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Bankole, Rix.

Goals: Hulse 37.

Portsmouth: Beasant, Cooper, Waterman, Buxton, Vincent, Barrett (Pettefer 89), Quashie, Biagini (Harper 47), Curtis, Vine (Lovell 66), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Tardif, Zamperini.

Booked: Buxton, Waterman.

Goals: Crouch 24.

Att: 7,170

Ref: A Leake (Darwen).