Swindon's battle to beat the drop continues after this lacklustre stalemate against one of their fellow relegation-threatened rivals at the County ground this afternoon.

Crewe looked by far the better side in the opening period – despite being one point worse off than Town at start of play – and would have been firmly in the driving seat but for missing two glorious chances to break the deadlock.

Midfielder Danny Woodards and Gilfi Sigurdsson were the guilty parties after both squandered clear-cut openings from close range just after the half-hour mark.

Sigurdsson also forced Phil Smith into a decent save with a shot from outside the box just over 20 minutes in as Crewe had the better of the efforts from distance.

Alan Sheehan also went close with a long-range attempt while striker Clayton Donaldson glanced a header inches wide of the post from a Scott McManus cross.

Billy Paynter missed Swindon's best chance of the game just before half-time by directing the ball over the crossbar after a Hal Robson-Kanu cross evaded a crowd of players in the penalty area.

A change of end and the wind on their backs saw Town somewhat improve after the break – although Crewe goalkeeper John Ruddy was only called into action twice, making routine saves from an Owain Tudur Jones free-kick and a long distance effort from Anthony McNamee.

Crewe did even less going forward but Phil Smith had to make a vital save to deny Sigurdsson right before the referee brought an uninspiring match to a close.

Swindon Town (4-4-2): P Smith; Amankwaah, Ifil, Greer, Vincent (J Smith 88); Robson-Kanu (Razak 84), Timlin, Tudur Jones, McNamee; Cox, Paynter. Subs not used: Brezovan, J Smith, Easton, Razak, Jean-Francois.

Crewe Alexandra (3-4-3): Ruddy; Baudet, Lawrence, Broomes; Brayford, Sigurdsson, Woodards, Sheehan (Westwood 78); Zola (Pope 69), Donaldson, Lawrence. Subs not used: Collis, O'Donnell, Miller.