A scintillating strike from substitute Darren Huckerby four minutes from time spared Manchester City's blushes in an entertaining Worthington Cup second round tie at Maine Road.

Huckerby, who had been dropped to the bench after the home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, came on with half-an-hour to go and turned the game on its head.

He set up two goals before letting fly from 20 yards for the winner after fellow substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips' centre.

Having been firmly put in their place by Michael Owen to lose their year-long unbeaten home record at the weekend, boss Kevin Keegan had stressed the importance of the often undervalued competition as a route into Europe.

But for 68 minutes of this match City were in serious danger of falling at the first hurdle as they met their match in the resolute and well-organised Crewe side fielded by wily old Dario Gradi.

Fans were still streaming into the stadium when Rodney Jack pounced on Peter Schmeichel's inability to hold onto a Rob Hulse 30-yarder to put the visitors one up.

City gradually woke up but despite incessant pressure could not find a way through.

They should have levelled midway through the half but Benarbia hesitated on the edge of the six-yard box after Eyal Berkovic's incisive pass.

So solid Crewe

City opened the second half as they had finished the first, piling on the pressure in an attempt to break down what was an admirably resolute visiting defence.

With the crowd getting restless Keegan decided on a change of personnel just before the hour, with Wright-Phillips and Huckerby coming on for Lucien Mettomo and Shaun Goater.

The switch almost had an immediate impact but City were denied by the woodwork for the third time, Nicolas Anelka breaking free down the right but seeing his shot ricochet away off the base of Ince's left-hand post.

But at last the goal came, with Berkovic firing home a superb 20-yard shot in the 68th minute after Huckerby's run had been halted on the edge of the penalty box.

City looked to have finally settled the game six minutes from time when Huckerby's centre was inadvertently turned in by Crewe defender Richard Walker.

But still the visitors refused to lie down, and a minute later they were back on level terms when Jones' pull-back was turned past Schmeichel by Hulse.

However, almost from the kick-off, and with the third goal in as many minutes, Wright-Phillips burst down the right from the kick-off and centred for Huckerby to despatch his thunderbolt.

Man City: Schmeichel, Jihai, Howey, Mettomo, Jensen, Berkovic, Foe, Benarbia, Horlock, Anelka, Goater. Subs: Nash, Wright-Phillips, Bischoff, Vuoso, Huckerby.

Crewe: Ince, Sodje, Foster, Walker, Wright, Sorvel, Lunt, Brammer, Jack, Hulse, Ashton. Subs: Bankole, Walton, Little, Rix, Jones.

Referee: R Pearson (Co Durham).