Salford boss Karl Robinson insists his side are firmly in the chase for the play-offs after their 1-1 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls Crewe.
Kelly N’mai put the Ammies ahead after 68 minutes but The Alex responded in emphatic fashion with Connor O’Riordan’s thunderbolt strike 10 minutes later.
The draw means Salford are now without a win in five but remain within six points of the fourth and final play-off spot, currently occupied by Crewe.
Robinson said: “This time last season we were 12 points off the play-offs and people still thought we had a chance, so to be six points off this year with a game in hand, we definitely have a chance.
“I’m really proud of this team and we’ll never give up, that’s not who we are.
“I thought in the first half we were really good and dominated large parts of it. I thought we were a bit unpredictable and looked a little bit off it at the start of the second half.
“It was a wonderful ball from Woody (Ben Woodburn) and Kelly (N’mai) and his out-to-in run caused so many problems for them today. I’m really pleased with our attitude after their goal but I’m disappointed we didn’t go on and win the game.”
Crewe boss Lee Bell was also disappointed his side did not go on to claim three points as the match ended in a frantic fashion with both sides going all-out for the win.
After Salford’s Tom Edwards had hit the crossbar, Crewe substitute Kane Hemmings was denied by a great save from Jamie Jones as The Alex were unable to find a late winner.
“We thought we had them on the ropes a little bit and we went for it, but it just wasn’t to be,” said Bell.
“In the end I’m disappointed we didn’t win the game with the chances we created in the second half, but it showed great resilience in the group and there was a real good feeling amongst the boys in the changing room after.
“We should have gone 1-0 up and then they go up the other end and we’re 1-0 down. It’s a lack of concentration from our part which had been good up to that point. We made some changes then and I think the subs really impacted the game.
“It was some strike from Connor, he got on to a second ball and connected with it really well. I thought it was just that we were back in the game at that point, and then the chances we created afterwards weren’t clear-cut opportunities but chances we thought we could have put away.”
