Road Crewe

Updated:

By Pete H

We want to see the sunshine after the rain – and to see Boro’ flying up the league table again. After last week’s washout, we go again and hope The Great Escape is somehow still on. It’s not gonna be easy, though. Crewe are up there and doing quite well about it. The gap between us and safety is eight points. But the main difference between fronting up to Walsall indoors last week and now the Railwaymen at their place is we’ve got one match in hand now. Could it be important when it comes down to the crunch?

Who knows – ask us again after the weekend burps up its latest football action.

 

Crewe Alexandra v Stevenage: The Preview…

Crewe Alexandra – who are they?

It won’t take much for us to improve on our last meeting with the Railwayman; that disaster the weekend before Christmas being one of our worst results indoors in recent times. Mind you, there’s always that 8-0 against Charlton. That mauling also proved there’s been a shift in the balance of power between our two clubs. We used to be able to rely on Crewe for points – even in our League One relegation season. Now it’s three defeats on the spin against them. If there was ever a time to rediscover that points-claiming habit, we’d say it was about now…

Our Record vs Crewe Alexandra: P 13 — W 5 — D 3 — L 5 — F 16 — A 17 — Pts 18
Last time out: Stevenage 1-5 Crewe Alexandra, 20 December 2019

How has Crewe Alexandra’s recent form been?

The problem with hoping we can somehow make Crewe our bunnies once again is how well they’re doing this term. The Railwaymen are nearly as far apart from us in the table as it’s possible to be; sitting pretty in second and within striking distance of the summit. After a 2-1 defeat at Plymouth ended a four-match winning streak, however, they’ve struggled to get back into their stride – the last three have returned one win and two draws in that order.

It hasn’t taken much for us to be right up against it this season. But the numbers for Crewe make grim reading. And here they are: second in the form table (17 points from 24), second-best home form indoors (39 points from 54), best attacking record (64 goals from 36) and, well, an OK defence; the Railwaymen only conceding five more than us up to this point. It’s going to be hard to keep them at bay. Unbeaten at home in nine, maximum points from their last seven indoors and at least two scored in each of their last four on their own patch.

Oof.

Tell us something we don’t know about Crewe Alexandra

So, let’s talk about the unusual name – shall we? Crewe’s story goes all the way back to 1877, which is mildly impressive in itself; nearly 100 years older than our good selves. In the beginning, however, the name was plain old Crewe FC. That ain’t much to write home about, is it? But, almost straight away, they decided to make a name for themselves (LOL) by adding Alexandra in honour of then Queen consort and wife of Edward VII – Princess Alexandra of Denmark. But not the same one as the hospital in Harlow.

Which Crewe Alexandra player should we watch out for?

It’s not often a League Two side turns to the Danish league for loan signings. That’s what Crewe did last summer in bringing Norwegian striker Chuma Anene to the club. A proper handful for defenders, Anene has chipped in with nine goals so far this season. He might not have scored since mid-January, but no doubt his presence is helping others at Crewe to bump their own tallies. Midfielder Daniel Powell is also a potential dangerman.

Who is our ref for this match?

Andy Haines. It’s nearly one full year since a three-goal home defeat to Notts County that gave our relegation-haunted guests the lifeline they were after. In the end, it didn’t help all that much. But the ref on duty that day was Mr Haines and we’re hoping that lifelines for a club in peril is his thing. If so, we’re onto a winner here. Our form overall on his watch ain’t too shabby either. So far this season, Mr Haines has dished out 82 yellows and eight reds – so it seems he likes his cards. His last dismissal was three games and one month ago.

Our Record: P 7 — W 3 — D 2 — L 2 — F 9 — A 10
Last time out: Stevenage 0-3 Notts County, 30 March 2019

And, finally, what do you reckon?

Crewe Alexandra v Stevenage scorecast: 1-2