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Match Report: Crewe 1 - 2 Brighton	Posted by David Snowball at Monday, August 11, 2008
It was a half decent performance yesterday but we weren't up against much to be honest. We started off well, pressing well up the pitch and getting lots of crosses into the box. Unfortunately, most of the play was coming down our right which meant that Cox planted most crosses straight onto the head of one of their defenders. Although we had lots of the ball we weren't making many chances and Calvin Zola should have scored with an easy header from a free kick while our defence were still getting to know each other. Virgo was looking lost in midfield as he doesn't have quick enough feet or enough mobility to properly fill that position. However, the one plus that he does have is his height, especially when getting forward which, in the end, led to the first goal. Mickey Adams switched McLeod to the right and the first time he had a chance to get a decent cross in resulted in it going straight to Virgo who made no mistake. My Crewe supporting mate was in their main stand and said he was right in line with Virgo and he reckoned he was off side but there were no complaints from the players and the goal stood. Virgo did improve as the game went on but largely because he was given time on the ball. Once he gets someone snapping at him all game (like Thomson did covering for him) then I feel that he will look out of his depth in midfield. We went in at half time fully deserving the lead and continued after the break. We were all over Crewe in the second half and hit the bar and post and had numerous scrambles in front of goal. Not getting a second goal looked like it may cost us and after they bought on Elding up front we started sitting back and letting Crewe play as we started to look a bit tired. Sure enough they got Calvin Zola through and he finished well past Kuipers who had had little to do other than punch out a few crosses. The Crewe jinx looked like it would continue but Forster got away right at the end and gave their keeper no chance with a great left foot shot into the corner - cue rapturous scenes in the far corner of the ground. New boys Hawkins and McLeod both looked like good acquisitions, Thomson had a good game in midfield as did Whing at the back and Foster up front. We shouldn't get carried away as Crewe won't have much of a season if they play like that all the time but it was good to see an accomplished performance and gives a good start to the campaign. Player Ratings Kuipers - 6 Whing - 8 Elphick - 7 Hawkins - 8 Richards - 7 Cox - 6 Thomson - 9 Virgo - 7 McLeod - 8 Forster - 8 Murray - 7 Labels: Colin Snowball, Crewe, League One
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Crewe Disaster - Albion lose 4-1	Posted by David Snowball at Sunday, August 27, 2006
Where do you start after a match like todays? Five goals are always good to see but not when four of them end up in Wayne Henderson's net. The omens were not good as it seemed to be often pointed out that we hadn't beaten Crewe since 1969 and early signs didn't look like that would change. The Albion started out again with four at the back (Reid, Santos, Lynch & Mayo), Chippy just in from of them, Hammond and Stokes in front of him, Cox and Revell out wide and Gary Hart as the target man! Crewe won an early corner and when it came over their guy headed it over with hardly a challenge being made to him. This was a familiar pattern that we would see more of later on. Both sides tried to pass the ball about, but the Albion had little penetration and seemed to suffer from the formation as often the ball was played amongst the back four or lost in the narrowness of the midfield three. Crewe were their usual neat and tidy selves and it seemed difficult to understand why they had not won all season. However, after 40 minutes, Chippy had a shot on goal from outside the box, it was heading wide but pleasingly ended up at Dean Cox's feet and he put it away with ease and the first decent noise erupted from the Albion faithful. However, a lead at this time wasn't really justified as it the best chances had fallen to Crewe, but the next five minutes were to prove decisive. They got a free kick just outside the box and when it went straight through to Henderson he could only parry it out to their left back who put it away with ease. Soon after, and just into injury time, one of them got behind Kerry who only succeeded in bringing him down in the box, resulting in a penalty and a harsh red card from Mr Singh. The spot kick was put away with no messing and all of a sudden things were looking very bleak. With us being 2-1 down at half time, the interval talk in the toilets was that Henderson should learn to catch the ball or put it round a post rather than just push it out to any onrushing opponent. Things were to get worse for Wayne soon after a good chance for the Albion early in the second half when the ball ended up hitting the post after a good shot by Revell rebounded off their keeper and a defender. The resulting long clearance by Crewe came to Henderson but his attempted clearance only cannoned off their onrushing forward and he ran free to put the ball into an empty net. Many of the crowd were calling for Henderson's head but he made a number of fine saves during the rest of the game and certainly saved us from a much heavier defeat. A number of substitutions came about with Robinson, Loft and El Abd coming on which resulted in much switching of formations. Gary Hart started as a striker, went back to right back and then ended up as a centre forward again before finishing out wide. This final change was due to Joel Lynch moving from Centre Back to Left midfield and then to Centre Forward as he was carrying an injury and all of the subs had been used. The crowd was incensed that Alex Revell was taken off as he'd tried hard but looked tired to me by the time he came off. Doug Loft looked lively while he was on but the passing game of Crewe proved decisive by the end against our tiring ten men and a fourth goal was put away with ease. Many people left after the fourth goal but made sure that they made their views clear to Mark McGhee as they passed the dug out. For sure, the Albion were very poor today and something needs to be done if this season is to have any promise. Ratings: Henderson - 5 - some excellent saves but at fault for two goals Reid - 6 - would be better used in midfield Santos - 5 - started well but seemd to lose concentration or desire Lynch - 6 - started well but got injured later on Mayo - 4 - typical Kerry game of the last few seasons Carpenter - 5 - struggling with his game Hammond - 4 - looks lost in this formation - subbed off Stokes - 5 - ineffective and subbed off Cox - 7 - kept buzzing about Hart - 6 - always kept going Revell - 6 - surprisingly subbed but was tired and fading Robinson - 5 - one or two good runs Loft - 6 - injected some energy El Abd - 5 - didn't add anything to the team Labels: Crewe, David Snowball, League One
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