DAVE Artell saluted the fans return to Gresty Road and even went as far to suggest their role as the "12th man" may have pushed this contest in Crewe's favour.

Ryan Wintle's stoppage-time winner thwarted Northampton's rearguard action which was stepped up after defender Joe Martin's 70th-minute dismissal.

Martin had picked up a first-half booking for dawdling around a free kick deep in Crewe's half. And the stupidity of that piece of timewasting came back to haunt Keith Curle's defensive game plan when the defender was dished out another yellow card by referee John Busby for a foul on Luke Offord in the second half.

By then Owen Dale had levelled Ricky Holmes' second-minute opener and Crewe were in the ascendancy, although a combination of woodwork and poor finishing left Curle's side hanging on grimly for a point they didn't deserve.

The roar of a crowd for the first time since March 7 provided the fillip to get this one over the line and the sights and sounds of matchday suggested a form of normality has returned.

"It was fantastic to have the fans back and they were terrific. From the touchline I could smell the chippy (Benny's in Gresty Road) and I thought "We are back"; I've not smelt that for nine months and that warmed my cockles if you like," said an ecstatic Artell.

"The fans do make a difference and they made a difference to this game. Northampton were timewasting from 20 minutes onwards and it helps if it is not just me and Kenny (Lunt) banging the drum.

"When you've got Fred from Nantwich Road telling the ref "he's taking his time here ref" it does help. I'm not saying get on the ref's back but there is a perception and it awakened the referee into maybe what their tactics were.

"That's a very direct way of affecting the outcome of the game possibly as well as cheering the lads on terrifically – there was even some singing too. I'm glad for the players and delighted for the fans as it's been a long nine months."

Holmes, though, provided an early shock when he flicked home a cross delivered by Sam Hoskins at the end of a Nicky Adams' quickly-taken free kick.

Crewe dominated the rest of the half without threatening Steve Arnold's goal and the Cobblers looked a well-organised force with skipper Cian Bolger dominating at the back.

But Dale drove at Charlie Kirk's cross and the shot flew off the turf and looped beyond Arnold for the 53rd-minute equaliser.

After Martin's red card Crewe swarmed forward and any number of chances could have delivered the winning touch.

Kirk drove onto the far post and saw another effort cleared off the line by Hoskins. Oli Finney headed against the bar and Tommy Lowery was thwarted by a brilliant save from Arnold, who was eventually beaten by Wintle when Kirk released Harry Pickering who pulled the ball across the six-yard box as the clock ticked down.

"Our game plan didn't go out of the window after their early goal, although it did make it difficult," admitted Artell, who made nine changes from the side losing the Papa John's Trophy penalty shoot-out (2-3 after 0-0) at Hull last Tuesday.

The manager revamped his back four with Olly Lancashire, drafted back in to partner Omar Beckles, making another solid contribution, as did Luke Offord who was asked to cover for the suspended Perry Ng at right-back.

"I thought we dominated the game and I can't remember Will (Jaaskelainen) having to make a save. I don't think the sending off changed the game and I thought the pattern of the game had been heading that way for a while."

Afterwards Northampton boss Curle was locked in a lengthy discussion with the referee about Martin's dismissal, but held back from criticising the official.

Curle said: "We had a game plan and I thought for 35 to 40 minutes it was working very well. But Crewe moved us around the pitch before half time and we settled back into a shape that made me feel uncomfortable.

"The sending off disrupted us but the attitude of the players was good and we didn't throw the towel in.

"Their second goal was disappointing."

Crewe: Jaaskelainen; Offord, Beckles, Lancashire, Pickering; Wintle, Lowery (Murphy), Finney; Dale (Powell), Mandron, Kirk. Subs: Richards, Adebisi, Sass-Davies, Johnson, Zanzala

Northampton: Arnold; Harriman, Horsfall, Bolger, Martin; Adams (Watson), Missilou (Dyche), Sowerby, Holmes (Chukwuemeka); Hoskins, Smith (Ashley-Seal). Subs: Mitchell, Lines, Rose.