We hadn’t beaten Coventry in 79 years since the day Harry Lovatt scored the winner in a 2-1 win on boxing day of 1925, in strange circumstances they had beaten us just the day before on christmas day. It was in front of a 7,287 bumper crowd at Gresty Road and today, in front of 7,475, Crewe finally put an end to Coventry turning us over with ease again and again. The squad for today took a surprising shape from the start. No Vaughan or Hignett in the 16 whilst Dean Ashton & Neil Sorvel were dropped to the bench, Higdon and Symes were named upfront, Cochrane in the centre and Steve Jones was on the left of midfield -
Williams
Wright - Foster - Moses - B.Jones
Lunt - Brammer - Cochrane - S.Jones
Symes - Higdon
Here we go again
So, no change in our style as we looked shocking from the off. Michael Doyle found space in the first minute to run unmarked at goal from 50 yards out but thankfully Billy Jones got a foot in to deflect his shot wide. It was obvious where the game was going from that point on, did we even believe we could win it when we kicked off? I don’t think we did.
We sat back and let Coventry pressure us, there was no midfield and the balls up front were few and far between. It was a question of how many goals Coventry were going to get. The ineptness of the team was rubbing off onto the crowd and the Alex fans sat in the ‘we know what’s going to happen’ tone of silence (I know, I know) as 1,100 Coventry fans, fresh from witnessing their team demolishing Millwall, belted out song after song.
Five minutes in saw the game slip into a more heated contest. Kenny Lunt slid in from behind on Onandi Lowe and seemed to win the ball cleanly but Lowe’s dramatic fall to the ground won him a free kick 25 yards out from the centre. Lowe stepped up and took his time to add to tension and his free kick seemed to curl over the wall and into the back of the net and bounce out again. The Coventry fans lept up in celebration but the players turned away like nothing happened and it was a goal kick - meaning it must have curled into the side netting.
Coventry were murdering us but never really were creating clear cut chances. Onandi Lowe had a couple of headers over the bar and there was a bit of a scramble when Williams only half puched a clearance and left a open net for Coventry but fortunately the referee blew for pushing.
Onandi Lowe had another free kick from a similar position which was fired with power above his head, somehow the 21 year old plucked it out of the air with such ease. Maybe I’m just too use to the Ince and Bankole way of dealing with those sort of shots.
Williams had other jobs to do, one with a header from McSheffery falling to Lowe of the line Williams had to have quick reactions to pluck the ball from the air, then McSheffrey forced Williams to get down low to his right and smother the ball after McSheffrey ran down the left before hitting a low, hard, shot at the left post.
Before half time Crewes only real chance of the game from Steve Jones. Using pure pace he went down the right and cut in down the edge of the area but with a clear sight on goal he scuffed his shot as it went weakly wide.
The first half started rubbish and ended rubbish. We still weren’t there and we were still looking gutless, passionless, arseless etc etc. It was sad to see the players were resulting to the hoofing tacting, with Symes (About 8ft 10in) and Higdon up front we just tried to find them with long balls from the back but because the midfield played so deep Symes laid it off to… noone.
Second Half Demolition
At half time it was just fans wanting to get this game over and done with, go back into a depressed state and moan some more. When we start a match poo, we normally stay that way. However, 29 seconds after Coventry kicked off the team were celebrating. Symes won the ball and took it forward down the left central bit. He rode a few challenges before laying it to his left for Steve Jones, on the left of the penalty area, Steve Jones used his first touch to poke the ball into the centre of the penalty area for a completely unmarked Michael Higdon to stoke his first career goal into the bottom right corner.
Whether it was a Dario blocking at half time or a lucky break, who knows, but it certainly did the trick. Confidence was trickling back into the side and they passed it around, on the ground, so much better. Cochrane and Brammer linked up well and Higdon and Symes made a promising partnership.
The game was certainly not going all our way after the goal. Coventry must have felt a bit aggrieved at the goal after totally dominating the match, they hit back with McSheffrey was the most threatening of all. He forced Williams into a save from a shot off a corner and then Onandi Lowe curled a shot straight into the arms of Williams.
Coventry were on the verge of dominating the game again when the Alex scored a second goal of the afternoon through Michael Symes. The Evertonian was making his debut and had the vision to pick up on Brammer’s lovely curling ball round the back of the defence. The tall figure of Symes went free down the Coventry half and from the left of the box rolled the ball with ease past the keeper and made it 2-0 whilst he and his former school friend Michael Higdon went crazy.
The goal set confidence in full flow, for fans and players. The ground, after 65 minutes of silence, erupted into songs and roared the team on whilst the team got their spirit back and started passing the ball like we all know they can.
Julian Joachim had a chance to pull one back for the sky blues just four minutes later, but Joachim volleyed the bouncing ball out of the ground from 10 yards out. Steve Staunton, how old is he?, then tried a free kick from a good 35 yards but Ben Williams strained his neck as it flew over his bar. We still had chances, Symes scuffed a shot from 25 yards and good link up play from Higdon, Jones and Symes nearly set Steve Jones free on goal but Jonah got the ball trapped under his feet inside the ‘D’.
The clock was now ticking down as Kenny Lunt’s 25 yard free kick whistled past the left post and McCready came on for Billy Jones, who got a standing ovation. It was now time for hit and hope for Coventry and for the nitty gritty. It should have been a stroll but with 10 minutes left Crewe had to give us something to worry about.
A free kick 35 yards to the left of the goal was floated into the 6 yard area, Onandi Lowe was left completely unmarked and was allowed, from the far post, to head the ball across the face of the goal and into the back of the net. Alex fans knew this signalled a nerve racking ending.
It spurred Coventry on and cynical ones were seeing flash backs of Millwall games, Sheff Utd and Stoke but Crewe had guts about them and stood firm. Coventry threw everyone forward whilst Dario took Symes off for Dean Ashton in a hope for Dean to waste time. Instead, Deano scored his 17th goal of the season.
It all came from a cleared ball to the half way line, Steve Jones turned on it and pelted off downt he touchline with Steve Stauton having no chance of catching him. Dean Ashton was to his left, who was also free of defenders, but Jonah went it alone and took it into the penalty area but about 10 yards out he tried to round the keeper who cynically, with no chance of getting the ball, went through Jones with his feet.
Dean Ashton stepped up and rolled it into the bottom left corner. With only two minutes added on there was no time for Coventry to go on another attack.
Just the job
It’s just what we needed. A win, a convincing win and a win that can bring the confidence out of the team once again. With 51 points, 5 points clear of Derby and 7 teams separating us from the bottom 3 I think it’s safe to say we are more or less safe - so lets crack on.
Dario has created a headache for himself. Not many were convinced over Hidgon and Symes starting, nor the fact he dropped Vaughan and Ashton but it seems to have worked perfectly. Higdon and Symes had such an understanding of each other throughout the game the partnership of them two looks promising. I’ve criticised Higgy in the past but maybe up front, or just behind the front two, is where he belongs. He did everything that was needed of him for the 2nd half and took his goal well.
The midfield in the second half were fantastic. Brammer and Cochrane battling it out in the centre were a pure luxury. Cochrane wins our man of the match for his pure fight, he never gave up on a ball till he won it. If he missed a tackle he’d go back a try twice as hard or if he lost the ball he wouldn’t rest until he won it back. His ability only adds to his commitment - he’s a Arsenal fan, bless him, but would give his his life to the cause.
I’ve noticed as well, that he’s starting to win the ball and slow the play and calm it down. Another summer training and he’s going to be a special player next season.
Reading next win, bring them on.
Player Ratings
Williams - 8 - Can’t say he was forced into any saves but caught a lot of crosses and re-assured the defence.
B.Jones - 7 - He got the sponsors MOTM but to me he looks completely knackered. Got turned a couple of times but other than that, top.
Foster - 7 - Possibly at fault for their goal and should have stamped more authority over Onandi Lowe.
Moses - 7 - Cool calm defending, expected of him.
Wright - 7 - Consistent as ever,
S.Jones - 8 - Troubled Coventry from the first minute onwards. Unfortunate that the keeper denied him of his goal.
Brammer - 8 - Got from end to end, rallied the players when it mattered and did everything we’ve been missing for 5 months.
Cochrane - 9 - Said it all above. Man Of The Match.
Lunt - 7 - His best performance in a while, hopefully he’ll build on it.
Symes - 8 - Impressive debut. Worked hard and deserved his goal with a good finish. Like to see more of him.
Higdon - 8 - His best game in a Crewe shirt. Creative whilst holding up the ball, scored and struck up a good partnership with Symes.