In this column, we look at how Crewe Alexandra have done on this day in the previous 20 years.
2001 – Crewe 2-2 Queens Park Rangers:
The first game of this round-up came 19 years ago with a home game against QPR. Peter Crouch gave the visitors the lead on 15 minutes with Andy Thomson doubling the lead on 34 minutes. It stayed that way until the final 5 minutes with Dean Ashton and Shaun Smith both scoring to rescue a draw for the Alex. Former Alex right-back Marcus Bignot played the full game for the visitors.
Alex: Bankole; Wright, Macauley (Sodje 44), Foster, Smith; Lunt, Sorvel (Navarro 84), Street; Little (sent off 63), Hulse, Jack (Ashton 74)
2002 – Birmingham City 3-1 Crewe:
The following year saw a trip to St. Andrew’s to face Birmingham. First-half goals from Stern John and Darren Carter gave the hosts a 2-goal lead at half-time before Tommy Mooney ended the game as a contest 3 minutes after half-time with Rodney Jack getting the Alex consolation with 5 minutes to play.
Alex: Bankole; Wright, Sodje, Walton, Smith; Lunt, Sorvel, Whalley (Rix 46), Vaughan; Ashton (Jack 79), Hulse (Tait 52)
2004 – Watford 2-1 Crewe:
Game 3 saw a trip to Vicarage Road to face Watford. Micah Hyde gave the hosts the lead on 31 minutes with Dean Ashton equalising just after the hour-mark before David Wright would score an own goal a minute later as the Hornets regained the lead.
Alex: Williams; Wright, Foster, Moses, B. Jones; Lunt, Brammer (Cochrane 85), Sorvel, Vaughan (S. Jones 39); Hignett (Symes 82), Ashton
2010 – Crewe 0-3 Shrewsbury Town:
The penultimate game saw a home game against Shrewsbury. Dave Hibbert gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour before two goals in the final 5 minutes from substitute Tom Bradshaw sealed the win. Former Alex loanee David Button played in goal for the visitors (both Button and the Alex keeper Steve Phillips were in the other team’s net in the other meeting earlier in the season).
Alex: Phillips; Brayford, C. Martin (Worley 46), Mitchel-King, Tootle; Westwood, Bailey (Walton 57), Schumacher, Grant (Miller 77); Donaldson, Zola
2013 – Crewe 0-2 Brentford:
The final game saw Brentford travel to the Alexandra Stadium. Bradley Wright-Phillips opened the scoring for the visitors on 12 minutes with Marcello Trotta adding the second 7 minutes from time. Former Alex striker Clayton Donaldson would play the full game for the visitors.
Alex: Phillips (A. Martin 22); Stewart, Davis, Ellis, Tootle; Moore, Murphy (Turton 61), Osman, Inman (Colclough 69); Clayton, Leitch-Smith
