Substitute Steve Jones heaped more pressure on West Ham boss Alan Pardew with an undeserved late equaliser for Crewe.

Until Jones' header, it looked as though Teddy Sheringham had won three Coca-Cola Championship points for West Ham with a brilliant 76th-minute free kick.

But West Ham were punished for missing several chances late on, and Pardew's position is now under greater threat after Jones made the most of one of his side's few efforts on target.

Pardew gave recent signing Shaun Newton his home debut, with Elliott Ward making his first home league appearance.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi brought in Chris McCready, Richard Walker and Gary Roberts.

Walker proved his worth immediately, blocking Sheringham's shot inside the area after the former England player had combined neatly with his strike partner Marlon Harewood.

Gavin Williams was West Ham's most impressive player early on - and his clever pass to Harewood should have led to a goal in the 11th minute.

The former Nottingham Forest striker went round goalkeeper Ben Williams - who had collided with Walker - but could only shoot against the right post when confronted with an open goal.

Williams came to the fore again in the 25th minute, sending a fierce volley just wide of the left post after an intelligent through-ball from Carl Fletcher.

West Ham wasted another chance in the 34th minute. Newton delivered a decent cross from the right, but Harewood headed wide of the right post from eight yards.

Matthew Etherington sustained what looked like a knee injury and was replaced on the left wing for the home side by Luke Chadwick just before half-time.

West Ham failed to raise the pace of the game early in the second half, and rarely troubled the Crewe defence.

There were only two chances of note in the first 20 minutes - 17-year-old Mark Noble's shot was blocked by McCready after a clever return pass from Sheringham, and Harewood again shot wide from 16 yards.

Crewe often had nine men behind the ball, but it took a great block from Chris Powell to stop Lee Bell giving the visitors the lead after he had raced onto Gary Roberts' marvellous 40-yard pass.

Roberts almost gave his side the lead 20 minutes from time, but Bywater did well to turn his fierce left-foot effort round the post after a fine pass from Mark Rivers.

At the other end, Ben Williams made an equally good stop to keep out the talented Noble's curling effort from 20 yards.

The home fans' tension was finally lifted by Sheringham, who sent a perfect free-kick into the top-left corner from 22 yards after Ward had been fouled by Colin Murdock.

West Ham breathed a sigh of relief five minutes later when Varney's close-range effort was ruled out - and the home side then poured forward with Newton, Harewood - twice - substitute Luke Chadwick and Noble all failing to find the net.

And their profligacy proved so costly as Jones found himself unmarked at the far post and headed past Bywater from close range to earn Crewe the point for which they had clearly come.

Teams

West Ham Bywater, Newton, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell, Williams (Zamora 70), Fletcher, Noble, Etherington (Chadwick 44), Sheringham (Mullins 79), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Walker, Reo-Coker.

Goals: Sheringham 76.

Crewe Williams, Walker, Lunt, McCready, Tonkin, Sorvel, Bell (Cochrane 85), Varney, Gary Roberts (White 79), Rivers (Steve Jones 78), Murdock.

Subs Not Used: Wills, Higdon.

Booked: Sorvel.

Goals: Steve Jones 90.

Att: 26,593

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).