Notts County’s automatic promotion hopes suffered a setback as they were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow hopefuls Crewe at Meadow Lane.

County’s David McGoldrick fired the best chance of the game agonisingly wide of the left post in added time, while Will Jarvis had earlier seen an effort batted away by Crewe goalkeeper Filip Marschall.

The dominant hosts also saw two penalty appeals, on Charlie Whitaker and Jarvis either side of the break, rejected by referee Martin Woods, who also booked Whitaker for simulation.

Former County striker Kane Hemmings lashed wide just before half-time, while Max Conway forced home keeper Sam Slocombe into a full-stretch save with 15 minutes remaining.

County lacked a cutting edge in the absence of the division’s joint top-scorer Alassana Jatta, away on international duty with Gambia, as they failed to find a way past Marschall.