Crewe Alex 2-0 Grimsby Town 24/25 Review - Staying Alive

This was a must win. Their season was on the line. A defeat would have all but confirmed their status in L2 for another season. But, when I'm sure a lot had written them off, they responded with a well earned and fully deserved 3 points, which keeps them alive, for now at least. They made fairly easy work as a lacklustre and subdued Grimsby side to move 1 point behind them, as the play-off fight hots up heading into the final 6 games of the season. This is my review of their win tonight:

Difference Maker

We talk about how much the missing attackers have impacted their promotion hopes. But for me, losing Mickey Demetriou for 8 games was similarly devastating to them. Ok, they did manage 2 wins, but their defence suffered for his absence. In the 31 games he's played in now, the Alex have conceded 0.84 goals per game. In the 9 games he missed, they conceded 1.44 goals against per game.

It's no coincidence that they've kept 2 clean sheets in the 3 games since he's returned and it couldn't have come at a better time. He was immense in this game, even if he was a touch fortunate to avoid a 2nd yellow card in the first half. But he settled down in the 2nd half and powered in his first goal since August and his first home goal since December 2023 in stoppage time to help ease the nerves and secure the win.

Clean Sheet

Talking of the clean sheet, this was their 15th of the season. That's the most they've managed in a season since 2002-03 and Filip Marschall has now managed the most by a keeper since Clayton Ince in that said season. Whilst I think bettering that season's 17(16 by Ince, 1 by Bankole) is a tough ask, both the team and Marschall have put themselves in with a shout.

Hybrid

A lot was made of the line up Lee Bell named for this game. On paper, it looked like a 5-2-3 formation, but in reality it was more of a 4-3-3. Conway operated in midfield alongside Lowery and Holicek, with all 3 taking up free roles. Long was left, Lankester right and Bogle down the middle.

At the back, Williams was more of a LB in a back 4. He went more positive with his line up and whilst I still think there are question marks in midfield(like why he'd rather play Holicek and Conway there over Sanders or Powell), it paid off with a brighter display. Please keep doing that Lee!

Dreadful

Paul Marsden. Name marked. It says a lot when both teams fans are berating him for poor decisions. Ok, maybe the indirect free kick for the high foot Cooney was in the rules if he feels there was no touch. But he totally guessed on Cooney's throw in, which he said went straight in.

He probably should have sent Demetriou off in the first half, he missed a good shout for a penalty on Lankester, he wasn't consistent with what was a free kick, he pulled back 2 clear breakaways, 1 for each side, when he should have played advantage. He was atrocious.

Lacklustre

I'll say this for Grimsby, I thought, much like the reverse fixture in December, they were very poor. Maybe they'll say they were missing all senior strikers, which is fair, but then the Alex have had to deal with that on a few occasions as well, so my sympathy is limited. They had some lively, technical players, but the Alex snuffed them out pretty easily in defence and caused them more than a few problems going forward. League Two has been poor this season, but no side epitomises that more than Grimsby. 7th with 6 games to go and a -3 goal difference.

In the hunt

As I said in my opening section, the Alex are still in the hunt for a top 7 spot. This win, coupled with Colchester dropping points at Gillingham, puts them 1 point behind Grimsby. But they need to keep their foot to the floor. They have no room for error. They now go to Bradford whilst Grimsby host struggling Morecambe. They could easily find themselves 4 point adrift again should they lose at Valley Parade and Grimsby win.

They need to keep picking up results, especially as Chesterfield, Salford and Fleetwood are still sniffing around not far behind them. Can they go to Bradford and maybe even snatch a win? They might have to. This win was huge for their confidence and belief I'm sure. But the points have to keep rolling in, otherwise their season really will be dead and buried.

Ref Assessment

Like I said above. Terrible.

Management Assessment

They rolled the dice with a new formation(ish) and it paid off. They've kept the wolves from the door. But given their mistakes in recent weeks, they'll need to come up with a flawless game plan to get something on Saturday.

Player Assessments

Filip Marschall

One scary wander at a set piece in the 2nd half aside, he had a comfortable evening and earned his 15th clean sheet of the season. Can he match Ince's record?

Ryan Cooney

He wasn't poor, but he still has those moments where you question what goes through his head, as he made a silly challenge to pick up another yellow card. Hopefully his hip injury isn't too serious, although I think Billington has a shout to come back into the team.

Connor O'Riordan

Another quiet and solid game where he kept things tidy and didn't make any mistakes defensively.

Mickey Demetriou MOTM

Yes, he was fortunate to escape a 2nd booking, but that aside, he was excellent and powered in a long overdue 2nd goal of the season to wrap up the 3 points. His assist for Chris Long's opener wasn't intended I'm sure, but they all count.

Zac Williams

He was fine on the left hand side in what felt like more of a LB role. But I won't budge from wanting Conway there and Powell or Sanders in midfield instead.

Matus Holicek

Not really in the game in the first half, his subbing felt enforced. Hopefully he's not joining Tabiner for a spell on the sidelines, they don't need injuries at this point of the season.

Tommy Lowery

Much better than he was on Saturday. His passing still wasn't great, but he finally found a decent set piece as his inch perfect corner found Demetriou's head. They need him on top form in these last few games if they are to get into the top 7.

Max Conway

All over the pitch, he even looked less fatigued than he did against the Vale. I still want to see him out on the left, but he was a close runner up for the MOTM behind Demetriou.

Jack Lankester

It's great to see him back starting and the Alex look a better attacking unit with him in it, but his decision making was a bit too rushed. His 2nd half shot which actually sparked a Grimsby counter attack was evidence of that. Still, he's fit and back in the team. And that's good news.

Omar Bogle

He's a very erratic footballer. He'll go from the sublime to the stupid in a short space of time. Still, he worked really hard throughout the game but couldn't get a chance to fall to him.

Chris Long

Was unfortunate to not get a shot away a few more times, but he made the most of some generous Grimsby defending to power in his 6th of the season. Thankfully what looked like a hamstring pull in the 2nd half was only cramp. I pray he can stay fit for these final 6 games.

Subs:

Max Sanders

My feeling that he didn't get involved in the 2nd half is summed up by him having 12 touches and making 6 passes, 4 of them successful ones. He couldn't get up to the speed of the game.

Callum Agius

I get why they didn't bring him on sooner, but it's nice to see him getting game time again.

Kane Hemmings

Made a difference towards the end with some good hold up work.

Lewis Billington

A late introduction for the hobbled Cooney, he didn't have time to do much.

Jamie Knight-Lebel

Same for the Canadian in his first appearance since returning from international duty.

Overall Verdict

This the shot in the arm everyone at the club needed. Now they go into the cauldron of noise that is Valley Parade, where 20,000+ are waiting for them. Beating Grimsby keeps them alive, but if they can find a way to beat Bradford, then they'll be well and truly back in contention.