A first-half penalty from former Oxford United striker Dan Agyei saw Crewe Alexandra defeat Swindon Town at the County Ground yesterday.
Interim manager Lee Bell made one change from last Saturday’s 1-0 home win against Colchester United with midfielder Eli King coming in for full-back Rio Adebisi (with Tariq Uwakwe moving to left-back), Rio dropping down to the bench where he would be joined by fellow defender Rod McDonald after a month out injured.
The first effort of the game came in the 4th minute with Luke Jephcott having a shot deflected wide before Khan would fire well over 9 minutes later. The Alex would take the lead midway through the half as Kelvin Mellor would be fouled inside the area with Agyei smashing the ball straight down the middle before Okwonko would turn another Jephcott effort over the bar just before half time.
McDonald would be on early in the second half for the ineffectual Lachlan Brook with the formation changing from a 4-2-3-1 to a 5-3-2, it would be the visitors who would have the next chance on 63 minutes as Agyei would head a Conor Thomas cross wide before Jephcott would head a cross against the crossbar 6 minutes later.
The next games for the Alex travel to Barnsley in the FA Cup 2nd Round next Saturday before hosting Newport County the following Friday.
What can we take out of this game?
Another three points and clean sheet, our first away from home since the opening day in the league, moving the Alex closer to the play-off picture than the relegation spots.
Swindon had plenty of the ball but hardly tested Okonkwo who dealt with the crosses and shots well when he needed to. Yes, you’d prefer to play with more of the ball and have more efforts at goal, but we have returned to the more resilient side that we started the season as.