By Chris Bailey

KEVIN KEEGAN's Euro dream is alive and kicking but only after it had been resuscitated by a second half injection of pace.

The blundering Blues looked like being on the end of a huge Worthington Cup shock until the introduction of speed fiend Darren Huckerby on the hour.

It was Huckerby's driving run into the heart of the Crewe defence that led to the Blues timely equaliser, a blistering 20-yard drive by Eyal Berkovic.

And it was Huckerby who provided the impetus for the Blues second goal, crossing against Richard Walker and then seeing the ball loop over stranded Clayton Ince in the 69th minute.

Huckerby rocket

That appeared likely to be that but Crewe hit back through Rob Hulse who had the easiest of jobs to convert Steve Jones' 86th minute cut back.

Amazingly, hardly had the celebrations died down when Wright-Phillips crossed for man on the spot Huckerby to hammer a brilliant first time right footer into the roof of the net.

City had earlier been in a state of shock from the 20th second onwards when the dip and swerve on Rob Hulse's long range effort deceived Peter Schmeichel who could only parry it out into no-man's land where Rodney Jack reacted quickest to put the visitors into a surprise lead.

Thereafter it was like an attack versus defence training exercise as the Blues battered away at a resolute Crewe defence and though they huffed and puffed the nearest the Premiership side came to a first half equaliser was when skipper Ali Benarbia hit the bar with a curling free kick.

The Algerian had earlier bounced a glancing header onto the roof of the net and the woodwork saved Dario Gradi's men for a third time early in the second half when Anelka whacked a ten yarder against the upright.

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