STEPHEN Walker fired a late equaliser for Crewe who had to negotiate another lengthy spell of added time.

Walker, on as a late sub for Antony Evans, ran in behind the last man to latch onto Rio Adebisi's long ball and shoot past keeper Chris Maxwell at Bloomfield Road.

It was the Middlesbrough winger's first goal of his second loan spell with the Alex and it couldn't have come at a better time for the 20-year-old, who has been restricted to one start since his arrival on January 22.

Crewe started brightly enough only to lose their way as well as Donervon Daniels to injury in the first half. They fell behind four minutes before the interval when they succumbed rather meekly at a corner allowing Danny Ballard to glance home Luke Garbutt's delivery.

Alex boss Dave Artell said: "We should have scored before Blackpool did and then to concede from a corner was very disappointing.

"After about 30 minutes we lost our way a bit, but we controlled the second half although we didn't create that many chances, and we finished strongly.

"I felt our goal was deserved, the boys are giving everything for the club. We'd worked on getting players in behind. Stephen timed his run and it was a good finish from him, he showed some good composure.

"We are on a really tough run of games and if you'd asked me if we'd remain unbeaten with games against Accrington, Sunderland and Blackpool I'd have taken that."

Chris Porter was the main threat for Crewe in the first period, going close with a couple of headers and forcing a good save from Maxwell, while Mikael Mandron had an effort ruled out for offside.

Paderborn loanee Evans went close with a right-footer after the break, but while Crewe saw plenty of the ball the game looked to be drifting away from them until Walker struck.

Both sides may have nicked it in a lengthy spell of added on time with subs CJ Hamilton close for the Tangerines, who were denied a fourth straight win, and Owen Dale curling an effort just wide for Crewe.

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley said: "We just weren't up to the speed of the game. We had opportunities to go 2-0 up, but the longer that it stayed at 1-0 Crewe could commit more men forward and scored a goal we should have avoided."

Blackpool Maxwell; Lawrence-Gabriel, Ballard, Thorniley, Garbutt; Ward, Virtue-Thick, Stewart, Kaikai (Mitchell); Simms (Hamilton), Yates. Subs: Robson, Turton, Dougall, Moore, Embleton.

Crewe Richards; Daniels (Adebisi), Wood, Beckles, Pickering; Evans (Walker), Wintle, Lowery, Kirk (Powell); Porter, Mandron (Dale). Subs: Jaaskelainen, Lancashire, Griffiths.