Crewe Alex 1-0 Crawley Town 23/24 Review - New Identity

I think we need to embrace a new version of Crewe Alex. Gone are the freescoring side that we saw up until October. In their place we now have a new Crewe, who are focused on keeping games tight, not making mistakes at the back and relying on moments of individual quality to win. It's not pretty, but it's got them another 3 points today. Here's my thoughts on the victory:

Discipline

Let me start with one negative. The discipline of this team is poor. Really poor. Coming into this game they had 74 yellow cards, the 3rd most in the league. Add another 4 to their total. Aaron Rowe was fortunate not to see red. Cooney made a poor challenge. Leigh got a deserved yellow that could have been more late on. They need to be far better in their challenges, because the amount of yellows they are getting is not good.

Nerves

I asked if the Alex were feeling the nerves before the game. I definitely think that is starting to affect them now and has for a while if we're being honest. They look so jittery in most of their play. They do what they need to do defensively, but they don't seem to be playing with any confident in their passing or attacking game. 2 shots on target in their last 2 games combined isn't enough to pick up the remaining 5 or so wins they need to make the play-offs. They need to realise they are playing with house money and relax a bit.

Defensively solid

You can make the case that the Alex have been excellent defensively in 2024. Take away the monster that is Matt Smith and I haven't seen a team open the Alex up consistently. They've conceded 5 goals in 7 games since the turn of the year. Salford aside, they've conceded 2 in the other 5. Ed Turns has been a massive add to replace O'Riordan, based on the early evidence. That defensive resilience will be put to the test on Tuesday, but the results have been very promising so far this year.

Enough Quality

The Alex once again huffed and puffed as an attacking unit. They are finding it really hard to create chances and score goals at the moment. But when you have your LB popping up with a match winning goal, you've always got a chance. It's been a long time since Rio Adebisi has scored, so it was about time he popped up in the penalty area to turn in his 3rd of the season.

Into the top 3

It's ironic isn't it, that the last time the Alex jumped into the top 3 was after a win against....Crawley. So it happens again 4 months later. They take advantage of slip ups by Wrexham and Barrow to move into 3rd. But we all know what happened last time. They played Stockport a few days later, fell flat and dropped back out again. Let's hope this is where history stops repeating itself. As the teams below will now be desperately waiting for them to drop points. They have 3 very tough games to close out February. Can they finish the month in the automatic spots?

Ref Watch - 5

I thought Martin Coy was poor. He missed a red on Rowe, which I'm grateful for, but even I can admit the Alex dodged a bullet there. He gave a lot of inconsistent decisions, took 55 minutes to book Corey Addai and gave a baffling free kick against Rowe when he cleanly won the ball. Still, he didn't have any major decisions to make thank goodness.

Management Rating - 6

I liked starting Holicek, even if it didn't quite work. But why are they so reluctant to play with 3 actual midfielders, given Offord found himself pushed back into defence for the most part? They also need to find a way to loosen the team up, as they are playing far too tense and need to relax.

Player Ratings

Harvey Davies - 7

He had little to do, but what he did do, he did well. A couple of pea roller shots and the rest was simple stuff. It was a nice clean sheet for him, his first from the start of a game since November. He'll need to keep performing with Booth back in action in the coming weeks.

Ryan Cooney - 4

Dreadful. Rightfully hooked at half time. Gave away a stupid booking and then he almost gifted a goal when his poor touch fell nicely to a Crawley man inside the box. His last start of the season, run with Billington and use Cooney as an impact sub only from now on.

Ed Turns - 8 MOTM

Another fantastic display from the new CB. Kept Crawley's attackers mostly quiet, winning headers and tackles. Part of a defence that has allowed 2 shots on target against in 2 games. Brilliant.

Mickey Demetriou - 7

Was his usual self, winning challenges and making blocks. Only thing that sees him behind Turns was I noticed a few mistakes, namely for the chance by Darcy in the 2nd half where he missed the tackle and put himself out of position.

Rio Adebisi - 7

Got forward more effectively and popped up with a vital goal to end his personal drought and get the Alex 3 points. I want to see more of this Rio, the one making those late runs into the box that are so difficult to track.

Luke Offord - 7

Was fine in what he was asked to do, but I have issue in him being asked to do it. Why did they play him at RCB and not CM? I don't get it.

Conor Thomas - 7

After a so-so first half where I felt he didn't have much impact, he stepped up big time in the 2nd half into a more free role. He helped make the cross for the goal and whilst he didn't get the assist, he deserves a lot of credit for it. Smartly avoided a booking and suspension as well, fair play to him.

Shilow Tracey - 5

Probably better than Holicek and Rowe, but that's not saying much. Did have a few nice runs, but once again I didn't think much came off for him and he was subbed with 20 minutes to go.

Matus Holicek - 4

A tough afternoon for him in the number 10 role. He couldn't find space or make things happen. He did have one solid run which drew a booking, but aside from that he struggled. Which is fine. Not sure he starts on Tuesday though.

Aaron Rowe - 4

Another who was dreadful. He was lucky not to get sent off and he should have been hooked at half time if the Alex had a fit winger to bring on for 45 minutes. Now up to 8 bookings, he needs to start contributing more going forward.

Elliott Nevitt - 5

Battled well and had some first half chance, but whilst a few weren't bad efforts, he did fluff a good opening at the far post. It might be time to bring in CBR.

Subs:

Lewis Billington - 6

I thought Billington looked solid when he came on. Gets credit for the assist on Adebisi's goal, as he got the last touch before it reached Rio. Was defensively good. Definitely starts on Tuesday.

Charlie Kirk - 5

God the Alex need him fit. He only had one meaningful moment on the ball and he showed his quality to win a corner. Because that was his only real involvement though, he doesn't get a high rating.

Lewis Leigh - 4

Not as clear cut as Rowe's, but his late lunge could have drawn red on another day. Not the sort of thing you want to be doing to impress the manager and get more game time.

Courtney Baker-Richardson - 5

Reduced to a "run around a lot" role where I don't think he touched the ball more than a couple of times. Hard to judge him on that basis.

Josh Austerfield - N/A

Another who I'm struggling to recall doing anything good or bad in the 10-15 minutes he had on the pitch.

Overall Verdict

3 points is 3 points. But I can't help but feel if they play like that in their next 2, they'll struggle to win either game, given the form of both Stockport and Harrogate. Still, with the game being on the road, that gives me confidence that the pressure will be off them to a certain extent. Fingers crossed they can keep their good run going and still be in the top 3 come 9:45pm on Tuesday evening.