Budtz stars as Pools grab priceless point at Crewe

Jan Budtz and Sam Collins were the stars as Hartlepool put in a dogged defensive display to earn a point in a goalless draw at Crewe - and that point could turn out to be with a lot more when the end of the season comes round. Budtz deservedly kept Arran Lee-Barrett out of the team and made some great saves, while Collins had a blinder days after revealing that his wife had had a heart attack.

Last time Budtz came into the team earlier in the season, he did well for three games but was dropped by Chris Turner as soon as ALB had served his suspension.
This time, though, Turner gave Budtz the respect his performance against Hereford a week earlier deserved by leaving in the team at Crewe, and Budtz responded with a handful of great saves.
As for Collins, he was constantly cheered by the travelling Poolls fans - just under 400 of them - and responded well towards the end of what he will surely admit has not been the best of seasons for him.
He missed two games in mid-season, when the club announced he was not available because of a family illness.
He did well to come back so quickly, but obviously a serious illness to your wife is going to affect your form and Collins fully deserved the backin g he was given by the fans at Crewe.
He and the rest put in the sort of gritty display which will be needed between now and the end of the seasponm if they are to stay up.
The point keeps Crewe at a distance, two points behind, but more importantly fourth-bottom Northampton are five behind, and their two games in hand might not be enough to help them.
Cheltenham, Hereford and Brighton look doomed, so the fight is on to avoid the fourth relegation spot, and it looks as if Pools' fate is now in their own hands.
They are at home to Scunthorpe on Easter Monday, and that won't be an easy game against a useful side battling to get into the play-offs.
Top scorer Joel Porter missed the Crewe game with a groin strain, but he could be back against Scunny and his goals threat up front could make all the difference.
Other games on Monday include Cheltenham v Yeovil, Colchester v Brighton, Huddersfield v Carlisle, Northampton v Southend, Oldham v Crewe, Swindon v L Orient and Tranmere v Hereford.
It's going to be a tense afternoon.