Dean Ashton celebrated Crewe's confirmed survival by scoring a late equaliser which dealt a further blow to Sunderland's hopes of qualifying for the Division One play-offs.
Walsall's defeat at Crystal Palace meant Dario Gradi's side are certain to stay up and this result boosted the chances that they will be travelling to Wearside again next term as the Black Cats are now far from certain to finish in
the top six.
Jeff Whitley had earlier ended a Sunderland goal drought of 386 minutes to put them ahead, the home side having failed to score in their previous four games as their hopes of automatic promotion died.
Sunderland made a blistering start and Kevin Kyle had a great chance to open the scoring with less than a minute gone but shot over the crossbar.
Only a minute later Jason McAteer got on the end of a John Oster corner but on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Williams did well to punch the ball clear.
Crewe were also not shy of pushing forward with Ashton and Billy Jones unleashing attempts in the first 10 minutes which did not unduly trouble the home side before Williams produced another fine save, this time at close range
from Marcus Stewart.
But the youngster was finally beaten in the 26th minute when Whitley collected a cross from Stewart, looked up and had time to plant a right-foot strike high into the centre of the net.
There was much less urgency about Mick McCarthy's men after they had taken the lead but as the half drew to a close Whitley - who had scored only one previous goal this season - and Kyle both tested Williams again, while Ashton brought the first save from Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom.
At the start of the second period Crewe sent on Chris McCready in place of fellow defender Richard Walker, but it did little to reverse their fortunes as the game degenerated into a disappointing spectacle.
Kyle produced the first significant attempt at goal of the second half in the 65th minute, latching on to a George McCartney cross, but Williams held the ball.
The visitors created little until suddenly they stung their hosts with 14 minutes remaining. Ashton had just had a header saved by Poom, but from Crewe's next attack he was put through by Dave Brammer and with the Sunderland defence
all over the place, slotted the ball home for his 19th goal of the campaign.
Steve Jones, Ashton's partner up front, almost won it for Crewe five minutes from time when he hit the woodwork with a long-range shot, while Kyle knew it was not to be his day when he had a last-gasp header blocked on the line.
Teams
Sunderland Poom, McCartney, Babb, Breen (Bjorklund 77),
Williams, Tommy Smith (Thornton 84), Whitley, McAteer, Oster,
Stewart (Byfield 73), Kyle.
Subs Not Used: Myhre, Robinson.
Goals: Whitley 25.
Crewe Williams, Wright, Moses, Walker (McCready 45),
Billy Jones, Hignett (Vaughan 77), Sorvel, Brammer, Lunt,
Steve Jones, Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Ince, Varney, Higdon.
Goals: Ashton 76.
Att: 25,311
Ref: M Ryan (Lancashire).
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