Crewe Cruise At Derby
Today saw us meet opposition who, on paper, probably have that little bit extra but none of it showed as Derby were quite simply brushed aside by a far greater Crewe side. They showed no fear, or respect, for the former Premiership side. Ashton stayed up front despite early scares he wasn't fit, Cochrane was dropped completely - watching from the stands with the fans.
So the team was unchanged from the side against Blackpool, and certainly just as thirsty for goal. Five minutes in and that man again, Steve Jones, popped up with a goal. His return after such a emotional summer can not get any better. Two goals against Blackpool and already a goal against Derby - he was flying, nevermind dashing.
It came purely from neat passing - Rivers, Ashton, Sorvel and so on - he found space on the edge of the box. He tripped on the ball before just leaning back and smashing the ball into the far right corner.
Fans, from both sides, were still arriving when the second Alex goal went in just 7 minutes later, and on the 12th minute. Steve Jones was clattered to the ground 40 yards out on the left wing. The free kick seemed like just a routine one from David Vaughan but his inswinger fooled everyone, despite Billy trying a diving header, and bounced into the far right.
Two-Nil on just 12th minute. If there was one good thing that came out of last weeks West Ham game, and that was teaching us how to attack and attack early.
As Derby fans booed the Derby players picked up their hads and gave us some defending to do. The first major worry soon led to a goal, with a corner, the result of a clearance off the line by Kenny Lunt, allowed Tudgay to have a free header from 6 yards - easiest goal he'll score this season.
It left us running a bit scared for a moment. Derby were looking abit more dangerous and put us under a lot of pressure. Tommy Smith was causing a fair bit of trouble, getting inside the box albeit with his back to goal. One or two times he turned and fired straight at Williams.
Whilst it was consistent pressure for about 10 minutes, it wasn't ever threatening. Derby rarely threatened the goal but when they did they came close. Kenny Lunt cleared off the line for the second time in the game when a long range shot went straight through a crowded box and past Williams.
The tide turned again on the 30 minute mark through some beath taking football. David Vaughan, who is having his best season to date, nearly scored the ultimate goal. Sorvel gave it to the Welsh Wizard on the edge of our own box. Spaced opened up for Vaughan as he took the ball forward, as he got to the half way line Derby players saw what he was up to and started to close down.
He past one defender, skipped over a tackle and shrugged off his marker before going clear on goal. Derby fans were virtually silent as Crewe fans roared him on, as he entered the penalty area he left two defenders in his wake but his rocket shot was cruelly saved by Lee Camp, the Derby keeper. Dean Ashton went for the follow up but camp parried his shot clear. It was almost gutting that Vaughan missed.
Apart from Ashton firing inches wide from 25 yards it was a quiet last 10 minutes in the first half. We went into half time winning and confidence seemed high, 4-3-3 seemed to be working and we looked like scoring on every attack. It was something fans have needed for, well, eight months.
The second half, though, started with disaster. Still thinking about the half time oranges, our defence allowed Derby to cut through them seconds after the re-start. Idiakez got into the box and had a blistering shot brilliantly saved by Ben Williams but the parry fell straight into Idiakez's feet who had the easiest of tasks to hit into a gaping goal.
Crewe heads dropped for a while. Whilst not playing bad, we had lost a little spark to create any great chances. Ashton and Jones were getting the ball forward, despite being bullied by their markers, but weren't really creating shots on target. Sometimes dithering when going to cross the ball.
Dean Ashton, who has been, without doubt, our best player this season, had a chance when he turned and cleared the defence. His shot from the right edge of the area just travelled wide and Rivers couldn't quite reach to turn it in at the far post. Dean, a few minutes later, hit the post after Steve Jones's crossed illuded everyone until Dean flew it at the far post only to hit the outside of the post.
It did look to be one of those games, being the better side but end up rueing so many great chances after throwing away a comfortable lead. Fortunately though, Crewe picked themselves up and on the 73rd minute Dean Ashton delighted 800 or so Alex fans at Pride Park.
Mark Rivers sent Steve Jones 'dashing' down the left wing where on the byline he chipped the ball into the box. Dean somehow lost his marker and found some space at the far post to just nod the ball into the net. He took his goal tally to five for this season.
Our tails were up and there was no stopping us now. Within eight minutes the game was wrapped up through Steve Jones once again. A bit of pressure was eased when Steve Foster fired the ball high up field. Two Derby defenders and Steve Jones chased it, it didn't seem likely but the Derby defenders decided to have a gossip and allowed Steve Jones to quite literally step around them, nick the ball, and knock it over the keeper and into the back of the net.
It was the signal for half of Pride Park to stand up and head for the exists. The last 8 minutes were 'Cocky Alexandra', easy defending and just waiting for the whistle. Fans gave Derby some stick with; "2-2 and you f**ked it up!" in reply to Derby's earlier jibes of "2-0 and you...".
So, Dario was proved wrong. 4-3-3 can work in this divsion, and it provided us, probably, our best league performance of 2004. With a couple of defensive touch up, ie more training, we could do even better. We have the best attack in this league, I won't shy away from saying it. Our midfield is fine, it's got pace, creativity and defensive quality in there. It's just our defence that could be venerable.
Billy, Foster, Moses and Tonkin is probably the best back four at the club but they still let things slip. Derby's second goal shouldn't have been, should have been cleared well before Idiakez had his first shot on goal.
Anyway, two weeks off from now to 11th September. Differing views will no doubt appear on CreweAlex.tv throughout that time.
Player Ratings;
Ben Williams - 7 - Looked comfortable. Kicking from his hands wasn't fantastic but nothing that would have ever cost us.
Billy Jones - 8 - I was expecting a quiet season from Billy Jones. Every youngster loses the lime light in their second season but Billy has put in yet another superb performance. Nothing fazed him and nothing got past him. He's also showing some pace going forward, and we all know Dario rates him as the best crosser the club has had in the past 20 years.
Steve Foster - 7 - Comfortable. Kept Tommy Smith out of real danger areas, and nearly scored twice if it wasn't for the keeper.
Adie Moses - 7 - Same as Foz. Did his job well, and is a better option than he who should not be named.
Anthony Tonkin - 6 - Caught out a few times in defence and positioning is sometimes poor. Quiet going forward aswell.
Kenny Lunt - 7 - Got stuck in, probably controlled our midfield.
Neil Sorvel - 7 - Fairly decent performance. Nothing special, nothing too bad.
David Vaughan - 8 - More magic from the Welsh Wizard. Really excelling this season and is becoming a major threat to other teams. If he can really find 90 minutes consistency in his performances he's going to be a major player this season.
Steve Jones - 9 - Absolutely flying at the moment. Two excellently taken goals, won the free kick for Vaughan's goal and got the assist for Ashton's goal. Brilliant performance from Jonah, brilliant return after his summer.
Dean Ashton - 8 - Dictated play up front once again. Really looking a very special striker. Division One top scorer this season? Wouldn't put it past him.
Mark Rivers - 6 - As previously said, bit slow and not really on the ball enough but he's getting goals and is getting in the right places at the right times. Can't drop him.
Fans, from both sides, were still arriving when the second Alex goal went in just 7 minutes later, and on the 12th minute. Steve Jones was clattered to the ground 40 yards out on the left wing. The free kick seemed like just a routine one from David Vaughan but his inswinger fooled everyone, despite Billy trying a diving header, and bounced into the far right.
Two-Nil on just 12th minute. If there was one good thing that came out of last weeks West Ham game, and that was teaching us how to attack and attack early.
As Derby fans booed the Derby players picked up their hads and gave us some defending to do. The first major worry soon led to a goal, with a corner, the result of a clearance off the line by Kenny Lunt, allowed Tudgay to have a free header from 6 yards - easiest goal he'll score this season.
It left us running a bit scared for a moment. Derby were looking abit more dangerous and put us under a lot of pressure. Tommy Smith was causing a fair bit of trouble, getting inside the box albeit with his back to goal. One or two times he turned and fired straight at Williams.
Whilst it was consistent pressure for about 10 minutes, it wasn't ever threatening. Derby rarely threatened the goal but when they did they came close. Kenny Lunt cleared off the line for the second time in the game when a long range shot went straight through a crowded box and past Williams.
The tide turned again on the 30 minute mark through some beath taking football. David Vaughan, who is having his best season to date, nearly scored the ultimate goal. Sorvel gave it to the Welsh Wizard on the edge of our own box. Spaced opened up for Vaughan as he took the ball forward, as he got to the half way line Derby players saw what he was up to and started to close down.
He past one defender, skipped over a tackle and shrugged off his marker before going clear on goal. Derby fans were virtually silent as Crewe fans roared him on, as he entered the penalty area he left two defenders in his wake but his rocket shot was cruelly saved by Lee Camp, the Derby keeper. Dean Ashton went for the follow up but camp parried his shot clear. It was almost gutting that Vaughan missed.
Apart from Ashton firing inches wide from 25 yards it was a quiet last 10 minutes in the first half. We went into half time winning and confidence seemed high, 4-3-3 seemed to be working and we looked like scoring on every attack. It was something fans have needed for, well, eight months.
The second half, though, started with disaster. Still thinking about the half time oranges, our defence allowed Derby to cut through them seconds after the re-start. Idiakez got into the box and had a blistering shot brilliantly saved by Ben Williams but the parry fell straight into Idiakez's feet who had the easiest of tasks to hit into a gaping goal.
Crewe heads dropped for a while. Whilst not playing bad, we had lost a little spark to create any great chances. Ashton and Jones were getting the ball forward, despite being bullied by their markers, but weren't really creating shots on target. Sometimes dithering when going to cross the ball.
Dean Ashton, who has been, without doubt, our best player this season, had a chance when he turned and cleared the defence. His shot from the right edge of the area just travelled wide and Rivers couldn't quite reach to turn it in at the far post. Dean, a few minutes later, hit the post after Steve Jones's crossed illuded everyone until Dean flew it at the far post only to hit the outside of the post.
It did look to be one of those games, being the better side but end up rueing so many great chances after throwing away a comfortable lead. Fortunately though, Crewe picked themselves up and on the 73rd minute Dean Ashton delighted 800 or so Alex fans at Pride Park.
Mark Rivers sent Steve Jones 'dashing' down the left wing where on the byline he chipped the ball into the box. Dean somehow lost his marker and found some space at the far post to just nod the ball into the net. He took his goal tally to five for this season.
Our tails were up and there was no stopping us now. Within eight minutes the game was wrapped up through Steve Jones once again. A bit of pressure was eased when Steve Foster fired the ball high up field. Two Derby defenders and Steve Jones chased it, it didn't seem likely but the Derby defenders decided to have a gossip and allowed Steve Jones to quite literally step around them, nick the ball, and knock it over the keeper and into the back of the net.
It was the signal for half of Pride Park to stand up and head for the exists. The last 8 minutes were 'Cocky Alexandra', easy defending and just waiting for the whistle. Fans gave Derby some stick with; "2-2 and you f**ked it up!" in reply to Derby's earlier jibes of "2-0 and you...".
So, Dario was proved wrong. 4-3-3 can work in this divsion, and it provided us, probably, our best league performance of 2004. With a couple of defensive touch up, ie more training, we could do even better. We have the best attack in this league, I won't shy away from saying it. Our midfield is fine, it's got pace, creativity and defensive quality in there. It's just our defence that could be venerable.
Billy, Foster, Moses and Tonkin is probably the best back four at the club but they still let things slip. Derby's second goal shouldn't have been, should have been cleared well before Idiakez had his first shot on goal.
Anyway, two weeks off from now to 11th September. Differing views will no doubt appear on CreweAlex.tv throughout that time.
Player Ratings;
Ben Williams - 7 - Looked comfortable. Kicking from his hands wasn't fantastic but nothing that would have ever cost us.
Billy Jones - 8 - I was expecting a quiet season from Billy Jones. Every youngster loses the lime light in their second season but Billy has put in yet another superb performance. Nothing fazed him and nothing got past him. He's also showing some pace going forward, and we all know Dario rates him as the best crosser the club has had in the past 20 years.
Steve Foster - 7 - Comfortable. Kept Tommy Smith out of real danger areas, and nearly scored twice if it wasn't for the keeper.
Adie Moses - 7 - Same as Foz. Did his job well, and is a better option than he who should not be named.
Anthony Tonkin - 6 - Caught out a few times in defence and positioning is sometimes poor. Quiet going forward aswell.
Kenny Lunt - 7 - Got stuck in, probably controlled our midfield.
Neil Sorvel - 7 - Fairly decent performance. Nothing special, nothing too bad.
David Vaughan - 8 - More magic from the Welsh Wizard. Really excelling this season and is becoming a major threat to other teams. If he can really find 90 minutes consistency in his performances he's going to be a major player this season.
Steve Jones - 9 - Absolutely flying at the moment. Two excellently taken goals, won the free kick for Vaughan's goal and got the assist for Ashton's goal. Brilliant performance from Jonah, brilliant return after his summer.
Dean Ashton - 8 - Dictated play up front once again. Really looking a very special striker. Division One top scorer this season? Wouldn't put it past him.
Mark Rivers - 6 - As previously said, bit slow and not really on the ball enough but he's getting goals and is getting in the right places at the right times. Can't drop him.