Shrewsbury's five-match unbeaten run came to an end following a 3-1 loss at Crewe.

Owen Lunt put the hosts ahead at Gresty Road before Josh Ruffels pulled Town level with a brilliant strike from 25 yards.

A smart finish from former Salop loanee Tommi O'Reilly put the Railwaymen back in front.

Town went on to put Crewe under a lot of pressure from that point.

But when throwing men forward, the hosts went on to grab a third in stoppage time through Omar Bogle.

Salop are back in action at Northampton in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Team news:

Boss Appleton stuck with a 3-4-2-1 system for the trip to Gresty Road - with Will Brook continuing in goal.

Luca Hoole, Sam Stubbs and Will Boyle made up the back three with Sam Clucas and Ismeal Kabia at wing-back.

Ruffels and Tom Sang sat in midfield with Anthony Scully and Taylor Perry more advanced in number 10 roles. George Lloyd was the central striker.

Crewe lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Stoke loanee Emre Tezgel up front.

Former Salop man O'Reilly operated on the right flank with Calum Agius on the left and Lunt in the middle.

Report:

After a cagey opening 15 minutes, it was the hosts who created the game's first big chance.

O'Reilly did really well to whip in a cross from the right that was met by a powerful header from Tezgel.

But Brook was equal to it - with the shot-stopping producing a brilliant diving stop to parry the ball away.

Town responded with Scully and Clucas both involved in a scramble from which Crewe just about cleared their lines.

But in the 21st minute, the hosts got themselves in front with a well-worked move that ended with Lunt finding the top corner from just inside the box.

Salop, though, were level before the half-hour mark with Ruffels beautifully finding the bottom corner with a brilliant strike from 25 yards.

Crewe looked to regain the lead immediately.

A ball over the top was brilliantly brought down by Tezgel - with the forward then powering a strike just wide of the post.

The hosts then went even closer with Brook producing an outstanding save to keep them at bay.

Aigus was sent charging into the box and - after cutting inside his marker - looked destined to score just yards from goal.

But Brook did wonderfully well to make himself as big as possible. And that meant he was able to keep the ball out with a vital block.

The hosts went close again shortly after the interval.

Max Sanders sent in a wonderful delivery that was met with an equally good header from James Connolly.

That effort, though, smashed against the post before bouncing to safety.

Crewe might have thought their luck was out.

But they were in front again sixty seconds later with O'Reilly darting into the box and lashing in an unstoppable strike.

Lee Bell's side had two good chances to put the game to bed after that, with both Aguis and Tezgel firing wide from dangerous positions.

Appleton then opted to make a double change with Tom Anderson and John Marquis replacing Stubbs and Perry.

And within moments, Town were almost level with Clucas firing inches wide after being picked out by Scully.

Appleton made a second double change with Tommy McDermott and Chuks Aneke entering the fray for Scully and Kabia.

Shortly after, McDermott fired over from 25 yards.

Town threw men forward from that point in a bid to find an equaliser.

But Crewe went on to exploit the space left at the back with Bogle running clean through on goal before firing in during stoppage time.

Teams:

Crewe: Booth, Billington, Demetriou, Sanders, Thomas, Finney (Hutchinson 32), Connolly, Lunt, Agius (Bogle 87), O'Reilly (Holicek 75), Tezgel.

Subs not used: Walker, Mingi, Rankine, Moult.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Hoole, Stubbs (Anderson 64), Boyle, Kabia (McDermott 75), Ruffels, Sang, Clucas, Perry (Marquis 64), Scully (Aneke 75), Lloyd.

Subs not used: Harrison, Benning, England.

Attendance: 6,614 (1,674 away)