A GAME that arguably deserved to be played behind closed doors produced some late drama at both ends.

Yet the outcome wasn't to the satisfaction of both Dave Artell and Brian Barry-Murphy, although it has left the latter boss with much more to worry about in the final fortnight of the season.

Relegation-threatened Dale missed the opportunity to carry on a stellar winning sequence by punishing lacklustre Crewe, who never got to grip with a game that appeared to be ebbing towards a goalless stalemate until Barry-Murphy's villain of the piece, referee Andy Haines stepped in.

A generous award for a trip on Charlie Kirk seemed to have settled matters after the Alex frontman sunk the rebound when Jay Lynch saved his last-minute penalty.

Even with seven minutes of added time it didn't seem enough for a Rochdale side lacking a cutting edge to make it count. But there was a twist in the tale when sub Matty Done bounded clear on Conor Shaughnessy's pass to finish in the far corner past Will Jaaskelainen in the sixth minute of added time.

Artell was left lamenting a real lacklustre show and pondering on the take-up of his tactics after deploying an unfamiliar three-man line at the back for the second game running.

Barry-Murphy, on the other hand, blasted official Haines for his game management and Kirk for diving, while insisting his players will fight to the bitter end to make up a five-point defecit to safety in his side's remaining three games. They may have their work cut out, though.

"It was a poor game and I thought neither side deserved to win," said Artell. "For all the play Rochdale had they only created one or two chances.

"It was a tough watch. When you look at the points we've thrown away, that's four against Rochdale, and that's the difference.

"We weren't good enough and it was a tough watch. We were trying little things and asking people to different things, like playing three at the back again. There are a lot of mitigating circumstances.

"We changed shape at half-time, and that wasn't very good until the last 20 minutes when we were the better team - but you can't only have 20 minutes in a 90-minute game. We didn't do anywhere near enough in possession."

Artell made three changes from the side victorious at Fleetwood with injured duo Luke Offord and Nathan Wood drop out, but the three-at-the-back experiment continued with Donervon Daniels linking up with Olly Lancashire and Harry Pickering. Rio Adebisi switched to left wing back and Antony Evans came in on the right, while there was a return or Kirk in place of one of the midweek goalscorer Owen Dale.

Crewe survived an early scare when Ollie Rathbone's deflected set-piece header rippled the side netting.

Kirk wasted a sight of goal after Paul McShane miscued his clearing header, volleying into the ground with the ball bouncing up straight at Lynch.

A fit-again Ryan Wintle was back in the fray on the half-hour mark after Luke Murphy hobbled off, but Crewe couldn't get going.

Jaaskelainen made a meal of dealing with Rathbone's shot from distance, but didn't have to extend himself much when fielding a low drive from Jake Beesley.

Crewe were fortunate not to be punished in first-half stoppage time by winger Jimmy Keohane who failed to keep his header below the bar after Ryan McLaughlin flung over a cross from the right.

A change in formation failed to end the malaise after the break and Wintle had his head in his hands when he miscued Mikael Mandron's knockdown as the goal gaped in front of him.

At the other end Jaaskelainen pawed over Morley's driven cross.

Finally, we saw some goal threat from the Alex when Evans' 25-yard drive was turned around by Lynch, who then did very well to use his feet to deny Kirk from finding the near corner after a give-and-go with Chris Porter split Rochdale's defence.

Then came the late excitement triggered by Kirk tumbling at the feet of Dale midfielder Morley after bringing down Owen Dale's cross. On a second examination it is hard not to disagree with Barry-Murphy's view on the award.

The Rochdale boss said: "It was really satisfying for us to see us go right to the end, and the players will keep going right to the last whistle of the season. You could see their response to the penalty – and it wasn't a penalty, the player (Kirk) dived.

"But we got on the front foot and we had chances after that. We'd controlled the game for long periods, but the longer it went on it drifted and there were a lot of stoppages, it became very fractured and the referee didn't manage it well.

"Andy Haines is a very good guy, but his performance today was hopeless. The accumulation of fouls in the first half was huge and the theory they weren't serious enough to warrant yellow cards meant they kept doing it."

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

Rochdale Lynch; O'Connell, McShane (Baah), Osho; McLaughlin, Grant (Humphrys), Dooley (Done), Morley, Keohane; Rathbone (Shaughnessy); Beesley Subs: Bazunu, McNulty, Newby.