- Railwaymen knocked out of cup on penalties
- Sides could not be separated after close 90
- First clean sheet of season for Alex
Crewe Alexandra bowed out of the Carabao Cup after losing a penalty shootout at Port Vale.
The Railwaymen impressed with their performance; bossing the first half and standing firm in the second against the League One outfit.
But neither side could break the deadlock in the 90 minutes and it went to penalties.
After five perfect penalties in the first round at the Stadium of Light, the Alex were wayward with every spot-kick this time.
Elliott Nevitt, Christopher Long, Rio Adebisi and Joel Tabiner all failed to find the net.
It will be a disappointment to Lee Bell and the superb sell-out travelling supporters, but The Railwaymen acquitted themselves well and should suffer no loss of confidence as they prepare for the visit of League Two leaders MK Dons this weekend (Saturday, 3pm).
Manager Bell made three changes to the side that lost at Bradford at the weekend. Zac Williams, Conor Thomas and Matus Holicek were recalled while Mickey Demetriou, Long and Shilow Tracey dropped to the bench.
In-form Vale made seven changes, with Andy Crosby handing a debut to new loan signing from Spurs, Alfie Devine.
The Alex started brightly and bossed early possession. Adebisi’s cross had to be clawed away from under his own bar by keeper Connor Ripley and Nevitt saw a shot blocked.
At the other end, Ben Garrity should have done better with a left-footed volley when the ball dropped to him in the box following a Vale free-kick, but he looped it across goal and wide.
On 21 minutes a super cross from Tabiner, who was playing in a more advanced role, was met by Adebisi at the far post but the wing-back could not keep his effort down from close range.
On 36 minutes a lovely ball from Nevitt was met by a flying volley from Cooney but it was comfortable for the gloves of Ripley.
Vale had the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time but the goal was chalked off because the referee spotted a push.
Superb play from Luke Offord and Tabiner set Holicek racing away early in the second half but a cynical foul from Lewis Cass ended a sweeping move.
The searing pace of sub Tracey left a couple of home defenders for dead after the hour-mark but his cross couldn’t find anyone.
And Vale sub James Wilson let fly at the other end but his strike was straight at Harvey Davies.
Adebisi’s downward header from a corner was held by Ripley at the second attempt, and super play from Tracey out wide found Nevitt in the box but his shot was well blocked.
Oliver Arblaster fizzed one just over with five minutes remaining as the hosts looked to win it in normal time.
Davies made a great save from Wilson in injury time and Offord slid the loose ball clear to maintain the Alex keeper’s first clean sheet and force penalties.
Port Vale (3-4-3): Ripley; Cass, Smith, Lacovitti; Sang, Lowe (Massey, 57), Walters (Arblaster, 57), Shorrock (Plant, 65); Garrity (Chislett, 79), Thomas (Wilson, 57), Devine.
Subs not used: Leutwiler, Clark, Ojo, Dipepa.
Booked: Garrity, Cass, Lacovitti, Devine.
Crewe (3-4-3): Davies; Williams (Demetriou, 66), O’Riordan, Offord; Cooney, Thomas (Tracey, 60), Powell (Griffiths, 89), Adebisi; Holicek (Long, 60), Nevitt, Tabiner.
Subs not used: Booth, Lunt, Billington, Finney, Agius.
Booked: Thomas, Williams, Powell, Nevitt
Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge.
Attendance: 6,375 (1,027).