Tomorrow evening sees the Alex play their first away game of the season as we make the long trip up to Hartlepool United in the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup – NB: This game kicks off at 7:00 pm, not at 7:45 pm.
Last Season:
They would finish 4th place in the National League as they won 22, drawn 10 and lost 10 before beating Bromley 3-2, Stockport County 1-0 and Torquay United 5-4 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after normal time in the playoffs.
Their first game back in the Football League after a 4-year spell in the National League saw them beat Crawley Town at home 1-0 thanks to a goal from Gavan Holohan – they sit 5th place currently in League 2.
Transfers:
Hartlepool have made 9 signings this summer with goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell arriving from Derby County, defenders Regan Ogle, Neill Byrne and Jake Lawlor joining him. Midfielder Martin Smith has joined on a permanent deal along with Tyler Burey and Matty Daly both joining on loans until January with Olufela Olomola completing their signings.
They have allowed the following players to leave on permanent deals – goalkeeper Brad Young, defenders Ryan Johnson and Aaron Cunningham, midfielders Claudio Ofosu, Luke Williams and Ryan Donaldson as well as forwards Mason Bloomfield, Rhys Oates and Danny Elliott.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 63 (1 in Carabao Cup)
Pool Wins: 47
Draws: 25 (1 in Carabao Cup)
Biggest Alex Win: 8-1 at the Alexandra Stadium in April 2011
Biggest Robins Win: 4-1 at the Alexandra in November 2016 (FA Cup)
Last Meeting
Hartlepool United 4-0 Crewe Alexandra, 28th February 2017
Lewis Alessandra would open the scoring on the stroke of half-time before substitute Padraig Amond would double the lead with 19 minutes to play. Alessandra would add his second with 5 minutes to play before Nathan Thomas would finish the scoring in the final minute.
Alex: Garratt; Turton, Ray, Nugent, Bakayago (Ng 74); Jones, Bingham, Cooke; Kiwomya (Kirk 74), Bowery, Cooper (Ainley 74)
Pool: Fryer, Donnelly, Harrison, Richardson, Thomas, Walker, Woods (Hawkes 90), Alessandra, Featherstone, Oates (Hawkins 90), Rooney (Amond 61)
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: n/a
Defenders: Peter Billing, Eddie Nolan, Michael Raynes, John Rowlands, Bob Scott, Jamie Sterry, Harry Worley, Stephen Wright
Midfielders: John Duthie, Craig Hignett, Brad Walker, Nigel Walker, Simon Walton
Forwards: Peter Baines, Bryan Conlon, Lee Ellison, Wayne Entwistle, Riccardo Gabbiadini, Wayne Goldthorpe, Martin Harris, Alan Livingstone, Mikael Mandron, Malcolm Moore, Billy Poyntz, Hughie Reed, Mark Taylor, Neil Warnock, Tommy Winship, Albert Wood
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with Thomas Bramall the referee, Shaun Hudson and Andrew Dallison are his assistants with Geoffrey Liddle the fourth official. The following Crewe games have been refereed by Bramall in the previous 5 years:
- Crewe Alexandra 1-4 Manchester City Under-21s (25th September 2018, EFL Trophy) – Nicholls
- Mansfield Town 1-2 Crewe Alexandra (23rd March 2019) – Ainley (2)
- Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Peterborough United (14th November 2020) – Pickering, Kirk
