Preston's third best crowd of the season of 15,830 watched a dull goalless encounter with a last-minute penalty by Preston right-back Graham Alexander saved by Crewe keeper Clayton Ince.
Crewe striker Dean Ashton had an early 25-yard right-foot shot saved by Jonathan Gould, one-handed and tipped over the bar.
Preston's only on-target effort of the first half, came in the 36th minute when ex-Derby midfielder Brian O'Neil had a 30-yard right-foot shot which went straight at the Crewe keeper Ince.
Three minutes before half time Preston striker and Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller had a right-foot volley which went over the bar from eight yards after a David Healy cross from the left wing.
This was Fuller's fifth shot off target in the first half.
The fourth official signalled two extra minutes, but it was 0-0 at half time.
Substitute Richard Cresswell came on for Pawel Abbott at the start of the second half and in the 51st minute a cross from the right by Claude Davis was headed on by Eddie Lewis from eight yards, but straight at the keeper.
Healy was booked just after the hour and then Crewe striker Steve Jones forced a save out of Gould when a right-wing cross from Billy Jones led to Jones having a diving header saved.
Fuller had a 12-yard shot tipped away for a right-wing corner after 75 minutes.
Lewis had another shot from 20 yards saved by Ince and then Healy saw a 25-yard right-foot shot saved by the visitors' keeper.
With only a minute to go Ince was adjudged to have pushed Cresswell in the box, but he saved Alexander's penalty which was hit straight at him.