Crewe held a host of sloppy performances; Tonkin, Lunt and Sorvel. It just denied us that edge to the game and going forward we were lacklustre whilst Dickson Etuhu had the better of our attack, he commanded the Preston back four and took the ball forward on many occasions.
Our defence was stronger than it has been all season. Billy and Foster in the centre had the Preston strikers under wraps and high balls were being dealt with superbly. Tonkin and Roberts on the wings were fine, if dodgy going forward.
It was Roberts, though, who looked shaky early on. An uncertain scrap for the ball inside the 6 yard box scared Alex fans for a few moments before Roberts hooked it away. Minutes later Roberts was at the centre of more shoddiness when the referee waved away a blatant foul on Andy Smith, as he ran clear on the edge of the area.
Thankfully Roberts settled into his right back role, his second position in his second game. The game also settled afterwards, we lacked the attacking form we've shown this season, we lacked a decent midfield - apart from Justin who stirred it up, and David Vaughan who gave everything as usual. So, really, we were lacking everything.
Preston got their goal a bit unexpectedly. They'd attacked without much luck in much of the first half, then from a cheap free kick down the left wing we failed to mark Davidson on the edge of the box, the ball was rolled to him and he fired it straight past Ben Williams.
And so, that was the first half. Terribly uninspiring for Crewe.
The second half was 'much' better. Steve Foster had a clear penalty appeal turned away when Davis tried to take the shirt from his back on Kenny Lunt free kick, the linesman and referee were both waving it away. The free kicks were a good point from our poor midfield; Kenny and Vaughan made some superb deliveries. In the first half Foster had a free header which he hit straight at the 'keeper and the most notable in the second half saw Vaughan's curler miss everyone for Lonergan to turn around the post before it crept in.
The officials weren't to be convinced easily. After Foster's appeal Steve Jones ran clear on goal but two Preston defenders clipped the back of his legs inside the area and the referee waved play on. After the Mark Roberts foul, it was clear these officials were rather inept.
Crewe fought on and did deserve something from the game but things just weren't going our way. Cochrane pulled a shot, or cross, just across goal which Mark Roberts failed to turn in and Steve Jones was denied by Lonergan after a good run.
The only thing that released frustration for Alex fans was the sending off of Simon Lynch. Lynch came on only eight minutes previously; a tussle between Roberts, Cochrane, Billy and Lynch saw Billy come out on top with a superb tackle but the aftermath saw Lynch kick out at Cochrane and the referee wasted no time in sending Lynch off.
Beforehand Crewe were the ones down to 10 men due to a diabolical law in the game. A gash under his eye saw a couple of drops of blood on his shirt and shorts - that you couldn't see from the stands - the referee though was adamant that Dean was to get a new shirt and new shorts on before Deano could come back on to the pitch. For a good five minutes we were without Dean. Gay rule.
Anyway, I laugh at the people who have made us out to be 'bad'. Come of it. We were decent enough in the second half. We missed good chances, and unlucky to not get decisions our way. That's football. We aren't a great team in this division and won't be. 'Not if you talk like that'. Grow up.
We don't have the resources to go out and get these wonderful players to come in and cast some magic and turn us around. We are, with Rotherham, the smallest club in this division. Smaller than half League One. Where are the likes of Grimsby who tried to bring in those men to take them to the top?
Sorry, they're too busy to answer us. Worried they may not be around in a month's time.
Your knee jerk reactions are crappy. Of course we should bring in loan players, but bring some realism back - which isn't doom, gloom and doom - we don't have the money to convince the quality!
I've seen one comment about how cr*ppy it is with Bowler and Gradi managing our finances. Yes. Look above. Look below. Look at Grimsby!
Why should I give these comments the light of day? We're a great club. Unlucky yesterday. Lunt, Sorvel and Tonkin had terrible games but the defence finally sured its self up. Ben Williams made two class saves, one that he turned onto the cross bar which he had no 'right to do'. Our midfield could do with tweaking but Vaughan and Cochrane provide the inspiration, whilst Jones and Ashton just are the best attacking pair we've had in a very long time.
We're waiting to really give someone a tw*tting. Rotherham on Tuesday will do me, then you can all enjoy your hypocritical comments.
Ohh, isn't Dario great!
Humbug!
Opps, bit early yet.
Player Ratings;
Ben Williams - 8 - Coped well with a lot of back passes, good kicking and careful handling when it mattered.
Anthony Tonkin - 6 - A real liability going forward and sometimes caught out of position at the back. He'll come good.
Billy Jones - 9 - Awesome display. In the middle with Foster he really dominated the game and gave Preston nothing. Shining light.
Steve Foster - 8 - Ditto. Same. Yes.
Mark Roberts - 7 - Really struggled at the start but from 20 minutes in he grew as a player and got stuck in. Obviously not his natural position, no real attacking ability but so far so good. Oh, BBC Lancashire - he's 20! Not 17. Don't slag before you get your facts right.
Neil Sorvel - 4 - Poor in every single way. As bad as people suggest? Nah.
Kenny Lunt - 5 - Made some good passes but caught slacking once too often.
Justin Cochrane - 7 - Worked really hard and really got stuck in. Usual Cochrane really.
David Vaughan - 7 - Only midfielder to really take on Preston on the attack but was regularly ganged up on. Superb set pieces.
Steve Jones - 7 - Good game as usual. Robbed out of a clear cut opportunity, but carried on regardless. Never gives up does he?
Dean Ashton - 8 - Like a dog on a treadmill. Gives absolutely every ounce of energy only to get absolutely nowhere. Looked pee'd off with his team mates all day.