Rotherham United 0 Crewe Alexandra 0: Moore is taking no risks ahead of play-offs

The Millers travel to Hereford United on the final day having already secured a place in this season's play-off semi-finals.

Moore says it would be simply stupid to risk losing, arguably, his two most important players to injury at this stage.

Warrington has not missed a Millers game for over two years and Le Fondre has played in every league game for the Millers since his arrival from Rochdale in the first month of the season.

Le Fondre had also been chasing the divisional 'Golden Boot' award for the player with the most goals but Moore said: "As a manager, you have to make tough decisions whether the players like it or not.

"I don't think Alf (Le Fondre) will be too happy but he does as he is told, simple as that!

"You would have to be stupid to play your top goalscorer against Hereford when there is nothing at stake. If I played him and he got hurt, I would be hung from the bloody rafters!

"There might be one or two others who I can't afford to do without if they pick up a knock. What happens if the goalkeeper gets injured, for example?"

The Millers were held to a goalless draw by Crewe but still booked a play-off place thanks to Bury, Port Vale, Chesterfield, and Northampton Town suffering defeats.

Aldershot are the only other team guaranteed a play-off place while, mathematically, six other teams are still fighting it out for the two remaining spots.

"We are not worried who we play in the semis but you can't pick and choose," said Moore. "If we play the way we know we can, we are more than a match for anybody."

Moore kept an unchanged side for the visit of Crewe, who were playing for nothing but pride.

Crewe manager Dario Gradi did not even attend and left coach Steve Davis in temporary charge while he went on a scouting mission to Notts County.

Gradi undoubtedly made the right decision to stay away as this game was dire – even before the second-half downpour that turned the Don Valley pitch into a skating rink.

Although Nicky Law headed against the crossbar early on, the Millers struggled for fluidity. They were also lucky not to go behind when Clayton Donaldson unleashed a 12-yard volley that hit the underside of the bar and when Luke Murphy's header forced Warrington into a flying save.

A series of aimless long punts from the back and slip-ups in midfield did nothing to quell a growing sense of unease among the home fans before the break.

It was perhaps fortunate that the heavens opened when they did – just after the interval – because the need to keep dry took minds off the football.

As supporters were migrating to the back of the main stand, or standing in gangways unable to find a dry seat, players slid around on their backsides in the mud.

At times, the standard was nothing near League Two level but more a reminder of games lessons in the rain at school.

If the rain had started 10 or 15 minutes earlier, or if both sides had needed a result, referee Russell Booth might have been hard pressed not to call the whole thing off.

Don Valley is already in a bad state, thanks to the U2 concert on the eve of the campaign and the big freeze during winter, but add torrential rain to the mix and you get a pitch that looks like it has been a home to a herd of cattle.

Although Rotherham improved when Moore took off the ineffective Josh Walker and Marcus Marshall, any real hope of playing good football had gone.

Le Fondre snatched at a shot when it would have been better to cross to Drewe Broughton at the far post. Broughton then slipped when shooting 12 yards out after being set up by Law.

The game's major flashpoint came with 11 minutes to go when Broughton decided to stamp on Crewe defender Patrick Ada behind the referee's back.

It was a shocking act of spite by the journeyman striker who should be thankful that League Two games are not under the same scrutiny as those in the Premier League.

Broughton fell over Ada in a tussle to win a header but, as the rest of the players jogged up the field, blatantly trod on the back of the defender's leg after getting up.

Amazingly, the Millers striker was not even booked for the incident which sparked a melee and an intervention from a linesman.

The Millers have now kept four consecutive clean sheets but have only scored three goals in eight games. Things are looking good at the back but they will need to improve in the final third if promotion is to be achieved.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Lynch, Sharps, Fenton, Gunning; Law, Mills, Walker (Bell-Baggie 54), Ellison; Marshall (Broughton 54), Le Fondre. Unused substitutes: Annerson, Green, Warne, McAllister, Cummins,.

Crewe Alexandra: Legzdins; Westwood, Brayford, Ada, Tootle; Murphy, Bailey (Schumacher 90), Walton, Grant (Miller 72); Zola, Donaldson. Unused substitutes: Platt, Mitchel-King, Shelley, Leitch-Smith, Davis.

Referee: RJ Booth (Nottinghamshire).

Grimsby's hopes of preserving their Football League status are still alive after a vital victory over Barnet which moved them to within a point of their opponents.

The Mariners looked certainties for relegation but a terrific run has seen them close in on their rivals and the 2-0 win leaves them only a point behind the Bees, who sacked manager Ian Hendon last week.

Robert Atkinson opened the scoring in the 59th minute and Mark Hudson hit the second in stoppage time.

Cheltenham will also be sweating on their position after a 5-0 defeat to Notts County. The Robins are three points ahead of Grimsby but their goal difference is now only six better.

Morecambe and Dagenham & Redbridge know wins on Saturday will book their places in the top seven.