Crewe Alexandra 1-1 AFC Wimbledon: Josh Neufville's stunning strike cancels out Jamie Knight-Lebel's opener

The Railwaymen were on the backfoot for long periods of their 1-1 draw against an in-form AFC Wimbledon and they have failed to capitalise

Crewe Alexandra boss Alex Bell praised his players for showing “endeavour” to earn a point against an in-form AFC Wimbledon side.

Josh Neufville’s stunning strike just before the break cancelled out Jamie Knight-Lebel’s opener for Crewe and the Dons went close to making it four wins from five as they dominated the second half at Gresty Road.

Bell said: “We played with intensity and I was pleased with that, although in the second half we couldn’t match AFC Wimbledon and get out of our own half.

“But the endeavour the players showed to get the point against an in-form team was really good. They will come out of this spell stronger and I’m really pleased with their effort.

“The crowd got onto them a little bit in the second half, but they are good players and they’ll come through it.

“We’ve got to concentrate on ourselves and the improvements we’ve got to make as we’ve had a really tricky spell in the last four games. If we keep picking up points like we’ve done then that will be important.

“We’ve got some strong options to freshen things up like we did tonight and we’re hoping to bring in another body to help us.”

Both managers played the rotational card with Dons manager Johnnie Jackson handing first starts to new signing Marcus Browne and Aron Sasu.

Bell made three changes, among them a first start for loan defender Connor O’Riordan since his move from Crewe to Blackburn a year ago.

Crewe struck first by making the most of a badly-defended free-kick with Knight-Lebel left unmarked to finish Joel Tabiner’s delivery (15). Neufville’s super strike, his fourth of the campaign, had the Dons level in first-half stoppage-time.

After the break Jackson’s side took a firm grip of the game and only the quick reactions of goalkeeper Filip Marschall and the woodwork prevented Browne from grabbing a winner.

Crewe were penned into their own half and when they did break clear late on through substitute Kane Hemmings, excellent defending from Joe Lewis snuffed out the danger.

Dons boss Jackson said: “I’m disappointed that we dominated the game but haven’t come away with the three points. But it’s hard to be too critical of the boys after the way they went about it.

“It was a setback going behind fairly early on – although I think Crewe’s goal was offside – but we ended the half strongly.

“But we scored a great goal to get back into it and we dominated the first half-an-hour of the second half and hit the underside of the bar – Crewe couldn’t get out of their own half.

“There was lots that didn’t go our way, but loads that was good about our performance. We tried to pass it around on a difficult pitch and the response to going behind was really good, we didn’t panic and we settled into the game.

“Josh’s goal was brilliant and we were knocking on the door after that. It’s a good point as Crewe were second in the league and they’ve been on an unbelievable run at home so it was never going to be an easy game.”