Lee Bell admitted his Crewe side went “back to basics” to secure a goalless draw at Accrington as they look to cement a play-off place.
The Alex manager has 10 first-team players missing through injury and results have slipped.
However, the point at Stanley means they remain in sixth place, five points clear of eighth-placed AFC Wimbledon.
This was not a classic match at the Wham Stadium with neither keeper having a lot to do.
Both sides had just two shots on target and it will not live long in the memory – but it could prove a vital point for Bell.
He said: “We needed a response and we got it.
“I thought the players gave it everything, they emptied themselves. We went back to basics, kept our shape and made sure we were not cut open.
“We got in some good positions but the final ball let us down.
“A clean sheet away from home is a foundation to build on and that hasn’t been our forte this season but that’s two on the bounce now.
“We have got to remain positive, we are a no-excuses team and the players who are playing have been around the first team.
“We just have to keep going, roll our sleeves up and hopefully we will have one or two back to freshen us up over the next week.”
Stanley made sure they will play League Two football next season after a turbulent time at the Wham Stadium, with the sacking of long-term manager John Coleman in March, and new boss John Doolan is looking ahead as he assesses his players.
The Reds kept their first clean sheet in 10 games and Doolan was happy with the way his backline stood firm.
Doolan said: “I am so pleased with the way the lads defended, as a back five, their decision-making was really good.
“We are two sides who like to get the ball down and pass it but the wind was swirling and it made it difficult for both sides. The wind has a massive impact on the game.
“I thought we asked a few questions ourselves and we had some good performances, Tommy Leigh worked his socks off as our target man.
“We had to dig in, everyone put a shift in, and I’m really pleased defensively.
“We haven’t as yet won at home since I took charge but if we show the same desire, spirit and togetherness to defend and keep a clean sheet, hopefully we can do it in our final home game.
“We have four away games on the spin now, it’s a testing time but it gives me time to try a few things and give lads a chance.”
Bayern Munich 3-0 Augsburg: Hat-trick hero Kane smashes Bundesliga record
Harry Kane scored a hat-trick to become the quickest player to score 50 Bundesliga goals as Bayern Munich comfortably dispatched Augsburg 3-0 on Friday.
Kane opened the scoring in the 63rd with a penalty before netting a quickfire double in second-half stoppage time to smash the record previously held by Erling Haaland.
Despite controlling the early possession, Bayern were unable to make their dominance count, with Nediljko Labrovic rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts maintained their dominance after the interval, with Leon Goretzka's looped header grazing the crossbar before Jamal Musiala went close soon after.
However, Bayern were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR review saw Mads Pedersen penalised for handling the ball, with Kane stepping up to score from 12 yards.
The England captain grabbed his second of the game in the third-minute of stoppage time following another VAR review which saw Keven Schlotterbeck sent off after tripping Kane inside the box.
Kane sent Labrovic the wrong way but was not to be denied a fourth treble of the season, brilliantly taking down Goretzka's searching ball before heading the ball home.
Data Debrief: HurriKane
Kane has now scored 50 Bundesliga goals in 43 matches. Before him, Haaland was the quickest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals, having done so in 50 appearances in the competition for Borussia Dortmund.
He is also the quickest to reach that total for Bayern by some distance. Kane has reached that tally quicker than the likes of Gerd Muller (83 games), Mario Gomez (71 games), Roy Makaay (67 games) and Robert Lewandowski (64 games).
10 of Kane’s goals have come from penalties, while 32 of them have been with his right foot, nine with his left and nine with his head.
Messi 'will be our No.10 in 2026', hopes Inter Miami chief Mas
Inter Miami fully expect Lionel Messi to remain at the club beyond his current contract ahead of the 2026 MLS season.
Those were the words of Miami's club managing owner, Jorge Mas, who was speaking to the media following Gerardo Martino's resignation earlier on Friday.
Messi joined the MLS side in July 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year contract, leading the Herons to the Supporters' Shield and Leagues Cup during his time in the United States so far.
His current deal is due to expire at the end of next year, though Mas made clear his desire to see Messi remain with the Herons at Miami Freedom Park, the club's new stadium that will open in 2026.
"He’s under contract through 2025. Leo and I will sit, and we’ll discuss the future,” Mas said.
“As I’ve said before, and I will repeat it now: I fully expect that in the opening of our new stadium in 2026 in Miami and the opening of our 2026 season, hopefully after a trophy-laden 2025 season, that Lionel Messi will be our No. 10.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
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