Crewe 1 Carlisle Utd 1: Shaun Miller put Carlisle ahead against his former club before George Cooper hit back to earn the hosts a Boxing Day point.

Miller broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when he was picked out onside by Luke Joyce's lofted pass.

After finishing low past keeper Ben Garratt, former Crewe academy player Miller celebrated in front of a big 1,392 travelling support.

His exuberant celebrations eventually earned the striker a yellow card.

But the Blues were pegged back shortly before half-time when Cooper beat Mark Gillespie with a 30-yard free-kick.

Carlisle held on under some strong home pressure at times after the break, Gillespie making some brave late saves.

Keith Curle's side also survived a strong handball appeal against Tom Miller in the final minutes.

United's draw saw them drop a place to third in League Two, while Portsmouth's win at Newport cut the gap to the play-offs to five points.

But the result means Carlisle have still been beaten just once in the league this season as they approach the halfway stage.

After Miller's opener, Charlie Wyke and Jason Kennedy nearly doubled the Blues' lead, but they were pegged back seconds before the break.

Cooper and Dagnall went close for Steve Davis' hosts before Cooper struck.

Tom Miller made a timely block to deny Cooper in the second half, while a goalbound Reggie Lambe shot inadvertently struck Joyce.

Crewe had the better of the late exchanges, Dagnall unable to convert Alex Kiwomya's cross at close range before the striker was superbly denied by Gillespie.

Home fans appealed for a spot-kick when Tom Miller then appeared to head the ball against his own arm, but ref Rob Lewis waved away the appeals.

Michael Raynes went close with a deflected shot towards the end for United before Gillespie kept out a James Jones attempt.

Kevin Wright was among three substitutes for Carlisle as the ex-Chelsea man came on for his league debut on the left wing.

Crewe: Garratt, Davis, Guthrie, Bakayogo, Turton, Kiwomya, Bingham, Jones, Cooper, Kirk, Dagnall. Not used: Richards, Nugent, Hollands, Udoh, Ray, Ainley, Lowery.

United: Gillespie, T Miller, Gillesphey, Raynes, Brisley, Joyce, Kennedy, Adams, Lambe (Wright 77), S Miller (Ibehre 77), Wyke (Devitt 65). Not used: Crocombe, Ellis, Asamoah, McQueen.