Rovers had to come from behind for the third home game in a row as they took the unbeaten run to eight games with a 1-1 draw against Crewe.

Alex took the lead in the second half from the penalty spot but Chris Shuker held his nerve to level when one on one with the keeper, earning Tranmere a point in the process.

There was one change to the side that drew 2-2 against Northampton, with the injured Steve Davies replaced by Mike Jones on the left side of midfield.

The early stages produced enough passing to back up Ronnie Moore's pre-match suggestion of an open game, with both teams quick to spread the ball across their midfields.

It was the visitors who had the first shot on goal, with Byron Moore firing wide of John Achterberg's right hand post on seven minutes, while Paul McLaren sliced a left foot effort wide from outside the area four minutes later for Rovers.

Robbie Stockdale missed the top right corner from 25 yards after good work from Jones and Paul McLaren on 16 minutes and Ben Rix sent a low drive wide of goal at the other end after Ben Chorley had charged down Lee Barnard's effort.

A move involving Shane Sherriff, Ian Goodison, Paul McLaren and Chris Shuker ended with a Steve Jennings shot deflecting wide for a corner on 20 minutes as Rovers started to enjoy the majority of the possession.

Rovers had the ball in the net on 27 minutes but it was ruled out. A Shuker dribble saw the ball run to Jennings and he ran towards the area before smashing a shot against the right hand post. The ball rebounded to Taylor whose header into the area was turned in by Greenacre but he was ruled to have been offside.

McLaren fired over after another good team move involving Jones, Shuker and Greenacre, while an excellent flick on from Gareth Taylor ran just out of reach of the onrushing Jennings on 33 minutes.

Another good chance came on 39 minutes, with Jones sending in a cross from the right, but Shuker's first time volley at the far post went high over the bar. On the stroke of half time Shuker sent a 25 yard free over from a central position.

Ryan Lowe put a low shot just wide of goal in the second minute of the second half, while Taylor had to clear after a goalmouth scramble saw the ball get closer and closer to crossing the line.

Taylor was involved again at the other end on 52 minutes, looping a header over from Sherriff's deep cross. The striker headed wide again from a tight angle a minute later after Stockdale linked with Shuker for the latter to cross from the right.

The visitors won a penalty on 55 minutes, with Ben Chorley ruled to have pulled former Tranmere defender Chris McCready down at a corner. Gary Roberts took the kick and sent it down the middle to give Crewe the lead.

Jennings did well to win the ball on the left on 57 minutes and his powerful cross had to be cut out by keeper Ben Williams with the danger eventually being cleared.

Taylor headed another Sherriff cross wide on 60 minutes and the striker's clever nutmeg helped Robbie Stockdale earn a corner soon after.

The equaliser came on 65 minutes. An excellent pass from Jones wrong footed the Crewe defence and put Shuker in space inside the area. The winger made his way to goal before firing over Williams and into the net from eight yards.

It took a wonderful one handed save from Williams to keep Crewe level on 72 minutes, when the keeper palmed McLaren's looping header away from goal after the striker rose high to meet Taylor's knock back.

Craig Curran replaced Jones soon after, with the youngster going on to the right side of midfield and Shuker switching to the left.

Curran was immediately involved, plucking Jennings' cross field ball out of the air with a perfect first touch before forcing a corner with a near post cross that had to be turned behind by Williams.

Jennings fired over with a first time shot from Greenacre's lay off on 86 minutes, shortly before McLaren was replaced in the midfield by Antony Kay.

Sherriff came close to a winner in injury time with a low shot from outside the area but it deflected narrowly wide and Rovers had to settle for a point.

Referee: Scott Mathieson

Yellow cards: Sherriff (87)