Crewe Alexandra (H) - Sat 7th Oct

[tangerinedream]

After 2 wins on the bounce we'll be hoping to carry that form into this weekends game which now sees us sitting just 6 points off the place off places although on the other hand we're also only 6 points off the relegation places! Visitors Crewe Alexandra are flying at the moment with just one league defeat in eleven, third in the table on goal difference behind AFC Wimbledon who also have 20 points as well as being the division's joint highest scorers. It's going to be a tough examination but we can at least take heart from our two previous meetings at Moor Lane which has seen us win both games scoring six with just one in reply.  Crewe's goals this season have been spread between 13 players which shows that they've got goals right through the side so another top class defensive performance like at Sutton in midweek will be essential if we hope to get anything out of this game. 

[chipbarm]

After 2 wins against frankly mediocre opposition Crewe promises to be a much tougher test of where we are actually at. As long as we apply the same effort and focus as we did on Tuesday night then we give ourselves a good chance. If we are as passive and lacklustre as the 2nd half against Newport then Crewe will surely take advantage. I'm going to say a draw is the most likely result.

The team should really pick itself so I expect it to be unchanged from Sutton.

[Chris P. Bacon]

I don't expect too much from this game....my expectations are pre-dampened. But we're playing 11 v 11. We will need to be at our best and Crewe may not be. An off-day for them or if they take us for granted and we have a chance.

The worst thing Wood can do (and to be fair he doesn't often do this) is to give Crewe too much respect and think.....I'll take a draw. If we play for the draw, we'll get battered. We're at home, we need to take the game to them, defend high and chase every ball...a la N'Mai.

[alanb]

The spirit in the team on Tuesday was the best I've felt for a good while. Kelly's on a high and brimming with confidence. And Crewe are due a loss.

[je85]

This could be one of the games of the day in L2. I am hopeful of a Salford win even if it’s another scabby performance. We have to keep attacking the front post hard on corners because in the recent past they haven’t been all that from whipped crosses. Home win- 2-1 UTA!

[tangerinedream]

Well there's another turn up for the books as I honestly wasn't expecting that today!. Thought we did well in the opening 20 minutes or so but then they started peppering our goal with a number of efforts that either went wide or were mis-hit and it was no surprise that they eventually opened the scoring. Thought that was it from there but up pops Matt Smith with one of his slow motion headers a minute before half-time and it's all square at the break. Have to say that Smith was excellent. Won the majority of his aerial duals and had the presence of mind to be in the right place for our second from a quickly taken free kick after Crewe thought they'd taken the lead just 30 odd seconds later. Good to see Watson come on and inject some extra pace and invention having replaced Lund who didn't have the best of games and then scoring a third as we looked to get stronger and Crewe seemed to fade away. Berkoe put Tilt's effort (which actually looked to have already crossed over the line) in for good measure over the line (again!) for our fourth and we might well have had more if we'd been a bit quicker and cuter with our decision making up front. Disappointing to concede late on but another overall gutsy performance where we battled away, dug in and showed that we can play a bit when we drop the negative approach. A customary home win over Crewe and all's well with the world!

[tangerinedream]

Neil Wood post match. Always said he was a good 'un!

[Chris P. Bacon]

Well my gob is well and truly smacked. Didn’t expect that at all and dare I say those preparing to return to the team will now have to fight for their place.

I agree with TD here. We were great in that first 20 or so, but Crewe came into it and I thought…..well here we go again. I thought that would be it. Not everyone performed well, but I’m not going to dissect what was a great team performance.

Since I’ve been critical of Wood and his inability to change things when we’ve lost, I should also praise him when he gets it right. He lifted them at half time and made the right changes. As for Smith….I really hoped he’d get his hat trick, but another great performance from him.

Onward and upwards.

[chipbarm]

Today was my most enjoyable game at ML for a long while. They say moments change matches and I dare say the half time talk would have been different if we hadn't equalised right on HT. Similarly us scoring 30 seconds after they had one disallowed put our tails up and rattled them. What's that old saying about playing to the whistle? Crewe were unprofessional in arguing with the ref whilst we were very quick thinking to get on with the game. From there we looked well in control and I thought the 4 goals were no more than we deserved. Sloppy to switch off near the end and concede but overall well done lads!

Also credit where it's due, Wood managed both half time motivation and the subs well today. All I want is the same positive attitude as today and the same will to win instead of some of the half arsed football we've had to endure this season. Hopefully onwards and upwards now, confidence must be sky high

[salfordiandude]

I know we conceded at the end of the game, and probably we stepped off the pedal somewhat, but it was refreshing to go to a game, watch the whole game, and come away not just with the win, but with a smile on the face due to enjoying a good game of football.

I hope we can kick on, but as always, there's no easy games in League Two, and we start again this Saturday away at Wrexham.

UP THE AMMIES