Tomorrow afternoon (hopefully) sees Crewe host Oxford United in a game that’s fairly similar to our game against MK Dons on Easter Monday – a win needed for either team to keep their slim playoff chances alive as well as the Alex winning the meeting earlier in the season.
This Season:
They sit in 12th place in the league following wins against Accrington Stanley, MK Dons, Rochdale twice, Wigan Athletic twice, Northampton Town, AFC Wimbledon, Plymouth Argyle, Burton Albion, Bristol Rovers twice, Fleetwood Town, Swindon Town, Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City, they have drawn with Portsmouth, Ipswich Town twice, Hull City, Blackpool, MK Dons, Peterborough United and Charlton Athletic while they have lost against Lincoln, Sunderland twice, Gillingham, Peterborough, Charlton, Fleetwood, us, Swindon, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Hull, Blackpool, Northampton and Accrington.
In the cups, they were knocked out by Peterborough in the 1st Round of the FA Cup and they lost against Watford in Round 2 of the Carabao Cup (after knocking out AFC Wimbledon, both games in that competition saw penalties). They finished top of their EFL Trophy group following wins against Chelsea’s Under-21s, Bristol Rovers on penalties and Walsall before knocking out Forest Green Rovers (on pens), Cambridge United and AFC Wimbledon before being knocked out by Tranmere Rovers in the semi-finals.
Transfers:
Since the last meeting, they have signed defender Luke McNally on a permanent deal with fellow defender Joe Grayson and forwards Brandon Barker and Elliot Lee arriving on loan deals.
Jordan Obita and Malachi Napa have left permanently while Joel Cooper, Sean Clare, Derick Osei and Nico Jones have all left the club on loan deals.
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 7
U’s Wins: 6
Draws: 5
Biggest Alex Win: 3-1 at the Alexandra Stadium in September 2011
Biggest U’s Win: 4-2 at The Manor Ground in August 1964
Last Meeting
Oxford United 0-2 Crewe Alexandra, 17th November 2020
Mikael Mandron gave the visitors the lead in the 28th minute with Owen Dale doubling the lead in second-half stoppage-time.
Alex: Jaaskelainen; Ng, Beckles, Offord, Pickering; Lowery (Murphy 63), Wintle, Finney (Ainley 63); Powell (Dale 75), Mandron, Kirk
U’s: Eastwood; Clare, Moore, Long, Ruffels; Forde (McGuane 80), Gorrin, Sykes (Obita 57); Henry, Taylor (Winnall 57), Shodipo
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Neil Cutler, Bruce Grobbelaar, Scott Shearer
Defenders: Steve Davis, Cheyenne Dunkley, Michael Raynes, Anthony Tonkin, Harry Worley
Midfielders: Junior Brown
Forwards: Steve Anthrobus, Jordan Bowery, Bernard Evans, John Grant, Dean Morgan, Billy Whitehurst
Officials:
The officials for this game have been announced here with Paul Howard the referee, Ollie Williams and Martyn Holmes are his assistants with Graham Salisbury the fourth official. This is the first Crewe game that Howard has taken charge of.