Colchester United v Crewe Alex 24-25 Preview - On the Beach

I feel for Colchester United. Ok, their stadium is in a horrendous location, but for the first decade or so of their existence in their new home, their pitch was always playable and in relatively decent nick all year round. But since the area around their stadium has been developed into a car park, hotel and restaurants, the drainage of their pitch has become a huge issue.

And it now leaves them playing on something resembling a sand pit. Which I suppose is fitting for the Alex, given their season is all but over, so may as well be on the beach. Still, there are points to play for and pride to be salvaged. Here is my preview of the Alex's Good Friday trip to Essex:

Pride

The Alex have lost back to back games coming into this one. That doesn't happen often, even despite their struggles under Lee Bell this season. They haven't lost three in a row in the league in his tenure since the 22-23 season, when they did it twice. I'm sure everyone, from the players to the management, will want to avoid ending that 2 year streak. I don't see how they do it, but there needs to some fire on display, which was sadly lacking against Cheltenham.

In the Hunt

As stupid as this is to say, the Alex are still technically in the promotion hunt. They are 5 points away from Grimsby. Yes, they need a lot of other results go their way, but if they beat Colchester in this game, they will move 1 point behind them and, depending on what Grimsby do against a confident Swindon, could be as few as 2 points off 7th spot. This is a heavy dosage of straw clutching, but they aren't dead and buried yet. Win this game and let's see where they are.

Very Much In the Hunt

Colchester though as going to be a very tough opponent to face. The Cowley's always create tough to beat sides. They have the 2nd fewest defeats in the league and have conceded the 5th fewest goals. They are rock solid defensively most of the time and have the quality at the other end to snatch goals when needed. There is a curiosity as to how they'll play with a likely large and expectant home crowd, but they have everything to play for and have a managerial duo who know how to come up with performances in big moments.

Away Record

If there is still one crumb of comfort to take coming into this game from an Alex perspective, it's that their away record is still good. They have lost 2 of their last 10 away games. Ok, 6 of them were draws, but 1 of the defeats was the infamous Wimbledon game. They were in every game in that run, even Bradford where they were a penalty/tight offside call away from pulling level. It's a long shot to see them getting a result in this one. But we are literally in do or die mode right now. Let's see how they respond.

Ref Watch

Scott Oldham

Oldham has most recently been in charge for some of the Alex's cup games, with this being the first league game he'll have managed in a few seasons. He's never stood out good or bad and I hope we aren't talking about him in this game.

2024/25 Record: 35 games(16 League One, 12 League Two, 1 League Cup, 2 FA Cup, 3 EFL Trophy, 1 National League), 123 yellows, 5 reds

Last Game: Huddersfield 0-1 Wycombe, EFL League One, 8th April 2025, 3 yellows

Crewe Alex Record: 6-2-5, 13 yellows, 1 red

Injuries/Absences

Colchester United

Ben Goodliffe, Harry Anderson, Teddy Bishop and Jack Payne missed their trip to Newport last weekend, with all of them important players, Payne especially. Then they faced the further blow when Lyle Taylor was stretchered off in that game. They aren't at full strength it appears if the above names miss out.

Crewe Alex

There was relatively positive news from the treatment room. Whilst Jack Lankester starts his rehab back from meniscus surgery, Lee Bell has revealed that Conor Thomas, Joel Tabiner, Matus Holicek and even Chris Long are in contention to play in this game.

Team

He won't do, which I do get, but there are calls to bring in players who will be back next season. For me, I sit somewhere in the middle. I want to see changes, because the same silly 5 at the back approach will not work. It stopped working months ago.

So, what would I do? A back 4. Zac should have been dropped weeks ago, he gets dropped now. Conway, Mickey, Connor and Billo go in defence. Lunt comes into midfield alongside Sanders and Lowery, assuming he's fit. If not, Powell will have to start again.

In the forward area, it's a new system, which might or might not work, but given it a try anyway. If Agius doesn't start after his goal against Cheltenham, then what's the point anymore? He comes in behind a front 2 of Hemmings and Thibaut, who will give you more of a shift than Bogle. The bench can then contain any 6 from Bogle, Williams, Thomas, Knight-Lebel, Tabiner, Holicek, Powell, Long and Cooney. I don't care who does or doesn't make it at this point.

None of the above will happen and I'm open to other suggestions, but this is what I would do.

Score Prediction

The players look confused and lost. The manager looks clueless. The fans are downbeat. A lot of the creativity and firepower is out injured. And they are coming up against a side who have won 11 games in their last 17 and conceded 12 goals in that time. A routine and standard 2-0 home win looks a formality at this point.

Colchester United 2-0 Crewe Alex