A goal in either half from Tottenham Hotspur loanee J’Neil Bennett saw Crewe Alexandra get their first league win of the season at home to 10-man Burton Albion at the Alexandra Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Manager David Artell made one change from last Saturday’s league trip to Shrewsbury Town with Callum Ainley coming into the midfield for defender Luke Offord, who dropped down to the bench. Former Alex players Ben Garratt and John Brayford started for the visitors, the latter captaining the visitors.
The opening event of the game came in the 3rd minute with Charlie Lakin booked for a late challenge on Luke Murphy before the Alex had chances a minute later with Scott Robertson having an effort saved by Garratt with Ainley also denied by the Alex Academy alum. The Alex took the lead in the 10th minute with Bennett getting in behind Brayford on the Alex left with his shot deflecting in off Michael Bostwick as the visitors would add to their bookings count with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Kane Hemmings also seeing yellow.
Will Jaaskelainen would make a great save to deny Hemmings diving away to his left on the hour-mark before Lakin would get his second yellow of the afternoon for a mistimed tackle on Scott Kashket midway in the half. The second came with 9 minutes to play with Bennett breaking down the left before cutting inside and firing past Garratt into the bottom corner.
Our next couple of games see the Alex host Morecambe on Tuesday before a trip to Rotherham United next Saturday.
What can we take out of this game?
It’s another game that has seen us improve with the additions having another week on the training pitch. Bennett and Kashket were a big handful on either wing while Robertson ran the show from the middle of the park as he covered every blade of grass.