The dramatic turn in fortunes forced McClaren into a triple substitution, sending on Peter Crouch, Frank Lampard and Stewart Downing for Lescott, Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Crusaders made one change from the side who found St Helens too powerful at Wrexham a fortnight ago, the inspirational Jarrod Sammut returning at half-back, with Peter Lupton moving to loose forward and Frank Winterstein dropping to the bench.