AGONISING finales aren't made any easier reflecting on the quality of the opposition's finishing.

Certainly Sunderland would be expected in most eras to get the better of Crewe, but for most of this encounter they were made to look very ordinary by Dave Artell's men - perhaps because they are.

For long periods at Gresty Road this afternoon it was Crewe's players who looked more accomplished, better drilled and above all else more energetic and spirited.

Had it not been for two exceptional long-range strikes from subs Jordan Jones and Chris Maguire the Wearsiders would have sunk to a deserved defeat.

That they didn't was partly down to some of the obvious quality Lee Johnson had lurking on his bench, as well as the fact the Sunderland head coach was prepared to make as many as four changes in one go to shake up a lethargic side.

It was also down to Crewe's lack of a killer instinct, for while a two-goal cushion may have been enough on any other day, good chances fell their way in the first half and even before the final sucker punch, when Mikael Mandron just failed to lob Lee Burge.

Those could have wrapped up only Crewe's third ever win in their 13 meetings with the Mackems.

"It was disappointing as I thought we were good value for all three points. They scored two worldies and that is was it has taken for them to get a point at little old Crewe," pointed out Artell.

"I thought we controlled the game in possession in the first half and created chances, then we contained them in the second. I don't think they had a lot of pressure, but that is how the cookie crumbles sometimes in football and we have got to take great heart in how we played."

Sunderland were living dangerously when Dion Sanderson missed the flight of his side's own throw-in. Charlie Kirk applied a touch before he was caught by Burge, but the centre-half atoned for his error by getting back to clear off the line.

Middlesbrough loanee Nathan Wood thumped a downward header just over the top corner before Crewe surged deservedly ahead.

As a teenager Mandron made a couple of appearances for Sunderland in the Premiership and his keenness to prove a point perhaps was apparent when he set up close-range finishes for Chris Porter and Lowery in the space of eight minutes.

Bounding onto Ryan Wintle's pass, the Frenchman pulled the ball back for Porter to net his fourth goal of the campaign (30) before driving a cross from the right of the box, which Lowery diverted home (38).

All Sunderland could manage in the first half was a volley from Lynden Gooch which Dave Richards pushed away.

After the restart the impressive Donervon Daniels stuck the near post from the tightest of angles, although an offside flag would have ruled out any finish.

Charlie Wyke drove over when well placed, but the Black Cats needed wholesale changes to start purring. One of those, Jordan Jones, reduced the arrears when he cut in and drove into the top corner from 25 yards (76).

Some set plays caused Crewe problems, none more so than when Luke O'Nien failed to connect firmly with his close-range header and the ball flew wide.

Mandron may have made the game safe, but keeper Burge deserved some credit before the sight of a board showing nine minutes of stoppage time offered Sunderland the hope they didn't deserve.

As it was Maguire, a proven and talented finisher, didn't need any invitation to try his luck from way out on the right. It could have ended heading for platform 12, but arced past Richards into the far corner.

Artell was quick to point to the positives – and at home, where Crewe haven't been beaten in nine games, there are plenty.

Arguably, they haven't deserved to lose in their own stadium since Lincoln were the better side back in October. If they can work some of that consistency on the road, where they have won only once in the last six, then they can still stay in arm's reach of the top six.

That's the aim for Johnson and Sunderland, but on the evidence of this it wouldn't surprise you if they even finished below Crewe.

"We've played well at home and that was the case today. Our last defeat here was against Gillingham in November and we were terrific that night and it should have been 5-0, but we lost 1-0. We can take heart from the fact we've dominated a game of football here," added Artell.

"I felt we should have had a penalty in the first half when Charlie nicked it over the keeper and he stayed on his feet when he got clipped.

"There were two or three more in the first half and one in the second – we had great chances to wrap the game up at 2-0."

A relieved Johnson admitted: "The goals were wonderful individual pieces of brilliance and we needed them because it was very tough to watch in the first half.

"What upset me the most was our lack of enthusiasm. We had no service for Charlie Wyke and we were outplayed and out-thought in the first half.

"I was going to make five substitutions at half-time, but I waited to see if we got going. There were a couple of them who had a point to prove. I'm happy to come out of that with something."

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

Sunderland Burge; McLaughlin, O'Nien, Sanderson, McFadzean (Maguire); Power, O'Brien (Leadbitter) (Winchester); Gooch (Diamond), Scowen, McGeady (Jones); Wyke. Subs: Matthews, Vokins.