Draw Sees Alex Drop To Sixth; Just Ahead Of Hosts

Crewe Alexandra and Gillingham played out a goalless draw at Priestfield Stadium yesterday, both sides ending the day inside the play-off spots.

Manager Lee Bell made 2 changes from last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against AFC Wimbledon with Ryan Cooney and Aaron Rowe coming in for Zac Williams and Charlie Kirk, who dropped down to the bench where they were joined by Matus Holicek after injury.

The game’s opening chance came in the 6th minute as Timothee Diang forced a save out of Tom Booth with a header from the edge of the 6-yard box before the first Alex chance came midway through the first period as Elliott Nevitt had a shot from distance blocked. The forward would also have a chance from a corner in the final minutes of the half but would have his effort saved by Glenn Morris.

Into the second half where Rowe fired over from a Josh Austerfield pass before Morris would deny Nevitt from a Rio Adebisi cross on 57 minutes. A double change midway through the half saw Williams and Holicek replace Rowe and Conor Thomas, seeing a change to a back 5, before the next chance fell to Gills’ substitute Josh Andrews who had a header tipped over by Booth from Remeao Hutton’s free-kick.

The next couple of games see the Alex hosting Forest Green Rovers on Easter Monday before travelling to Accrington Stanley next Saturday.

Final Thoughts:

It’s another game where it feels that automatic promotion is just out of reach for the squad that is currently fit (so without Courtney Baker-Richardson, Jack Powell, Joel Tabiner, Luke Offord etc.) and that the Alex would have to settle for a playoff spot as the quality in the opposition penalty area seems to be lacking at this point.