Crewe Alex: What Can We Take From Today?

In a game which many Crewe Alexandra supporters thought we should have won, both on paper and after seeing how the game unfolded, there were many positive signs and opportunities to take all three points. However the fact those opportunities were missed has caused concern amongst the Crewe crowd, with fans suggesting the trapdoor is edging ever closer and becoming more of a threat with every passing game. Putting it bluntly and in my honest opinion, we need to win one of the next two to have any chance of staying up – for the sakes of confidence and morale and also to prevent a win, which comes any later, being too little too late.

Today however gave me a bit more optimism about the clubs future we showed: more fight, passion and ability at creating chances, however lacked any form of clinical finishing. The general overview of the game on social media is; if we had a more capable finisher we would have won. I agree with that overview as well; but also believe if we keep creating chances, the goals will come. With the signing of Jordan Bowery it is clear Crewe made attempts to strengthen in the attacking third. As of yet however, Bowery has failed to become a fan favourite. Away at Doncaster, he squandered opportunities whilst, he put on a somewhat woeful performance. Today though he looked better. He was more used to the Crewe style of play, appeared stronger and quicker, and linked with strike partner Chris Dagnall more smoothly and consistently. Yet still goals appear a rarity – that’s the cause for concern. It doesn’t take a DCI to realise if you don’t score you won’t win, however that is the issue. We are not scoring, not winning, thus morale and fight is low. Despite a single player’s ability; if you play with confidence, you play better. If you play better, you get more promising results. If you get more promising results, you get more confidence. Then the cycle restarts. How we get that first result and that confidence, in a dry patch in front of goal, is the concern. The concern which is growing and the possibility of the script reading Crewe Alexandra exit stage left, is growing with it.

However on a more positive spin, with regards to today’s match, we created more chances more freely. Something we haven’t done for a long time. The defence linked with the midfield and the midfield linked well with each other and the attackers – we communicated well, moved it well and looked like a team. We didn’t do that under the last year or so of the Davis era, that is why we are in the position we are in. We need to keep the accuracy and efficiency of passing high and keep the communication levels high also – if we do that I can see results returning.

Personally I do not think we will go down, in my opinion we have too many good players for that – who if push came to shove can and will cut it. However, it is a growing concern. We must win soon if we are to stay up, and I hope we can. Though I can’t see where the win will come from, I believe we have what it takes in the ranks. Despite Artell being winless in his first three games as gaffer, we have appeared stronger with each one. Today we did enough to win, had two or three penalty shouts turned down – we were unlucky. However you cannot rely on luck, not in the position we are in. We need things done and need to do them ourselves, starting next week.