Team news

Patched-up players answer call Port Vale have no new on-field problems as they prepare to host neighbours Crewe.

The club announced over the weekend that it had been placed under a transfer embargo by the Football League because of an outstanding tax bill.

That prevented midfielder Chris Birchall from playing against Northampton on Saturday.

Vale will continue to patch up defender Clayton McDonald (hamstring) and midfielder Rob Taylor (Achilles) after both played at Sixfields despite carrying niggles.

However, striker Tom Pope is still not ready to return following his recent groin operation.

Defender Gareth Owen, midfielders Sam Morsy and Kingsley James and striker Ben Williamson are options for manager Micky Adams should he wish to make any changes.

Crewe boss Steve Davis has no new injury problems to contend with for the re-arranged npower League Two derby trip to Port Vale.

Striker Ajay Leitch-Smith is set to miss out once more with an ankle injury, while on-loan Wycombe defender James Tunnicliffe is targeting a return from his shoulder problem in the trip to Rotherham next midweek.

Davis completed the signing of full-back Jordan Brown on Monday, but the former West Ham youngster is unlikely to feature despite being available for the Vale Park clash.

Byron Moore returned from an ankle injury to open the scoring in Saturday's 3-3 draw with AFC Wimbledon and is expected to retain his place on the wing.

Port Vale vs Crewe

Last modified 22:22 28/02/12

Moore earns Alex derby draw Byron Moore's 80th-minute equaliser rewarded Crewe's late revival in a feisty and highly-entertaining 1-1 local derby draw at Port Vale.

Vale were keen to take an early grip on the game and Sean Rigg almost took advantage of some uneasy defending when he fired a third-minute shot into the side-netting.

The home side were still shading a highly-charged contest when Crewe keeper Steve Phillips made a brilliant reaction save from Marc Richards' close-range header in the 26th minute.

Crewe did provide an occasional threat on the break, with Vale keeper Stuart Tomlinson saving comfortably from Moore and Nick Powell during an entertaining first half.

Vale broke the deadlock four minutes after the interval when Dave Artell crashed the ball into the roof of his own net in attempting to clear a vicious low cross from Paul Marshall.

It was no more than Vale deserved and Micky Adams' pumped up side then went for the kill as Chris Shuker's 20-yard drive was beaten away at full stretch by Phillips.

But Crewe came to life in the final quarter of the game with Danny Shelley crashing a 72nd-minute shot against a post before Moore levelled with his eighth goal of the season.

Alex substitute Shaun Miller had his effort blocked on the line by John McCombe after he rounded Tomlinson but Moore followed up to tap in the rebound from four yards.