Just like watching Brazil as Crewe take 3 points

Confidence is running higher than it has been for years(?). Last night we saw class, skill, crisp clean passing and great movement. The team looks fresh every game and fear no one. You couldn’t be blamed for thinking 3 draws against Ipswich, Millwall and Walsall, after the Franchise game, would be excellent but it’s quite disappointing we only got 7 points.

Walsall last night came unbeaten with 2 draws and a win on the table and with 1,200 away fans getting behind them they were confident of stretching their 4 game unbeaten run.The team saw Wright left out with a dead leg from the Millwall game and Chris McCready took theright back spot. Other than that it was the usual 11. Ince, Vaughan, Moses, Foster, McCready, Rix, Brammer, Cochrane, Lunt, Jones and Ashton.

The match started with Walsall trying to go for the early goal. Within two minutes Aranadale had volleyed over. from the off it was obvious what Walsalls game plan was – pass it to Merson and see what happens next. There was no real threat other than Merson, who just strutted around the pitch spraying balls across field while moaning if he wasn’t centre of attention.

The first 10 minutes were us soaking up Walsall pressure which was an easy job. The best chance for the Alex fell to a Walsall player. Dean Ashton’s cross across the face of the goal was headed out for a corner by Danny Hay – but oh so nearly hit the back of the net. As usual the corner was wasted… we never score from corners, what do you expect.

Within 15 minutes we were starting to edge into the game with Brammer and Cochrane stamping their authority on the game in midfield with a few strong tackles. After 20 minutes neither team were actually in control, although a long powerful shot from Walsall’s Matias made Clayton Ince work in goal… abit, ish.

it was clear where the game was heading, Crewe domination. After 25 minutes we had got into a good rhythm of pass and move football. Crisp clean passing and excellent youthful skill was worrying a rather one dimensional Walsall side. The best chance of the game so far had fallen to Foster after Rix had floated in a corner Foz powered a strong header at goal from 18 yards but Vinny Samways cleared it off the line.

Beautiful one touch passing 30 minutes in should have created a goal when a ‘bam bam bam’ move sent Jones clear. The linesman flagged for off-side when Jones had clearly worked it well after coming in from a offside position to take the ball on.

Rix, 5 minutes later, who had been brilliant yet again with good runs, excellent passing and good crosses should have scored. He took the ball 30 yards out and after taking the ball forward and running at defenders he powered a 20 yard curling ball just under the centre of the cross bar but Walker, in goal, matched the effort with a one handed tip over the bar.

Before half time Ashton and Cochrane both had good chances. Ashton spent abit too long on the ball inside the box. A Brammer ball was brought down with a brilliant first touch by Ashton, on the penalty spot, but just spent too long thinking before he turned and smacked his shot straight at defender Hay. Whilst Cochrane had broke down the left into the area but his low shot was parried by Walker before Walsall cleared for a corner.

We weren’t creating many clear cut chances but the possession was all ours. We were showing the ‘typical Crewe’ style with excellent passing and good runs. Tackling was tough but accurate. We outthought them and ran the midfield for the whole of the first half and half time was a bad thing for us – we needed a goal!

Before half time we saw a strange bit of play. After a Crewe corner a Walsall player was in agony on the floor in the penalty area. After a Walsall attack Crewe intercepted and started attacking but Ashton put the ball out….. The strange bit was that Ashton also took the throw-in after the player had treatment, yet the referee and two officials totally missed the mistake. Strange.

The second half started a bit like the first. Walsall just having the better of the possession, for all of 5 minutes. Credit to them though as they did scare us a bit when a Samways cross found Hay who headed at goal but  it was cleared off the line and a free-kick was given our way after Walsall had adjudged to have pushed Ince.

Five minutes later and Crewe were in full swing of things again. After Brammer smashed over from 30 yards the best chance of the match was Ashtons. A brilliant cross from Cochrane found Ashton on the far post who’s header hit the base of the near post before being cleared by Walsall.

On the hour mark Deano went close again with a twisting 30 yard smash going jus wide of the left post and into the empty Family Stand.

After much possession & domination we finally got the break through. What should have been a simple clearance for Danny Hay turned into a Walsall farce. He tripped over the ball and let Jones break free. Jones cleverly found Lunt on the left to entered the area who smashed a shot off the cross bar. The ball bounced down and while Simon Osbourn tried to shield it from Jones 2 yards out Jones just toe poked the ball over the line. 1-0.

Only 3 minutes later and Ashton could have wrapped it up. Jones in the area squared it left to a unmarked Ashton who took a couple of steps forward but he smashed the ball inches over the crossbar.

It was like Millwall all over again as the players sat back and asked Walsall what they had left in them, well admittedly they didn’t have much but it only had to take a little mistake for a equaliser. Samways’ answer was a weak header that didn’t trouble Ince.

Jones meanwhile had a good 30 yard shot making Walker work in the Walsall goal. The last 15 minutes were all Walsall as they search for a equaliser but I can’t remember them creating a decent enough chance. Crosses went in but Incey plucked them out of the air. Merson had a long range shot which went a yard or two wide, bless him.

Jonah had an excellent chance to seal the game late on when a break away saw him one on one with the keeper but with the keeper off his line he tried a chip but failed miserably and it went onto the roof of the net.

After the 3 minutes of extra time was announced it was a matter of Ashton time wasting in the corner and whilst not entertaining he did a good job – even winning a corner. The 3 minutes, or 4 minutes to be exact, felt longer than the actual 90 minutes but the 3 points were picked up and we now sit happily in 7^th place.

The team is at it’s best I think. The skill and the pace we played with was top notch and if we can start bagging a couple more goals a match I think we can surprise a few people this season. Seven points against Ipswich, Millwall and Walsall is no mean feat.

I would still like to see a striker come in. A Hulse type striker who can bag the goals and hold up the ball – does the simple stuff and no fancy stuff. We need one or these 1-0’s could start turning into 1-1’s and 1-2’s and that’s where we could be venerable. Cambridge Utd officials were at the game – maybe furthering links with CUFC striker Dave Kitson?

As for players that have signed. Tonkin signed a 3 year deal before watching the match. Dario now has a headache, which I’m sure he’ll welcome, with Vaughan and Rix both on form and Tonkin being the better left back – which two get the nod down the left? Maybe Rix can go in the middle instead of Cochrane? Surely he can’t leave Cochrane out after 5 great performances. God knows what Dario will do.

Next few games will be vital to get wins with. Burnley Is a possible 3 points as are the likes of Preston and Rotherham. I see no reason why another 7 points could be won. By mid September the best start we’ve made to a Div 1 season, ever, could just get brighter.