Crewe Alex 1-0 Sutton United 23/24 Review - Massive

It's not one that will live long in the memory. In fact, I think it was the most predictable game of football you're ever likely to see. We knew it would be an ugly, tough watch, with not much separating the teams. And we knew a single goal was probably likely to settle it. Well, that was proved to be exactly correct, as Elliott Nevitt's scruffy finish got the Alex their biggest 3 points of the season. Here is what I made of the game:

Nervy

The Alex put in a really nervous performance tonight, let's not gloss over it. They misplaced passes, made the wrong choices, gave away silly free kicks. And yes, against a better side they might well have been punished. But given they came into this game off the back of a worrying collapse against Morecambe and a dismal display at Doncaster, it didn't matter how they played, it only mattered what result they got.

9 Clear

Tonight was a huge result for them in terms of the table. Yes, if people want to keep looking up, things went for them as they moved back up to 4th and are now only 2 points off Stockport and 4 off Wrexham. But for me, I was always looking down the table. And the table says after tonight's results that the Alex are 9 points clear of 8th placed Walsall with 9 games to go. That's a huge advantage at this stage of the season and it'll go a long way towards at least securing a top 7 spot come the end of April.

Clean sheet

After 2 shaky defensive performances, tonight wasn't perfect. Sutton had some openings, but lacked the quality to finish them off. How they scored 4 against Notts County, I don't know. They worked hard but couldn't find that finishing touch, which is probably why they are likely heading down.

But credit to the Alex for the defensive workrate they put in. Booth was solid, as were the others in the back 4, including a half fit Williams who somehow got through the 90 minutes. This was a huge clean sheet, even if it was against Sutton.

Patience

What the Alex needed tonight was patience. Sutton to their credit worked their socks off, like their EFL lives depended on it. But after the 60th minute, they started to fade badly and once the space opened up, the Alex grew into the game, took over and in all honesty, never looked like they weren't going to win it.

Subs

I'll criticise the management when I think they get it wrong. But tonight, they nailed their subs. Perhaps it was luck, perhaps it was good planning. It doesn't really matter. Elliott Nevitt wasn't planned, but he made the most of his opportunity after CBRs early injury to put in a MOTM performance and score the winning goal.

Aaron Rowe, who has been poor for a while now, actually looked interested and made the goal with a great through ball. Lewis Leigh, who's struggled to show why he was signed back in January, gave them some much needed energy in midfield. With players dropping out with injuries, first Holicek and now CBR, they are going to need their bench to step up in a big way. They did tonight.

Referee Rating - 0

Rookie ref gives a rookie performance. Shocker. There was the usual missing of tactical fouls, timewasting and giving inconsistent free kicks all game. But the worst of the lot was Steve Arnold's kung fu kick wiping out Tracey, only for him not to give even a foul, let alone the red card it deserved. The EFL need to stop promoting incompetent refs, because someone is going to get seriously hurt.

Management Rating - 7

There are concerns over the some elements of how the team play. But as I said above, they deserve credit for not playing Rowe as a number 10 and for getting the subs mostly correct. They also made 2 big calls starting Williams and Tabiner and whilst neither were great, the moves didn't backfire either.

Player Ratings

Tom Booth - 7

Was solid in everything he did. Made some routine stops, his kicking was good and his shithousery to buy time for Turns to get treatment was funny.

Rio Adebisi - 6

Better than Saturday, he got forward well down the right and had some promising attacking moments. Do they keep him on his weaker side going forward?

Ed Turns - 7

I do think he can be a little over eager to get into physical challenges when dropping off and picking his moments might be wiser. But he battled well against the tricky Harry Smith.

Mickey Demetriou - 7

Like all the Alex defenders, he'll have tougher games. But he defended well for the most part and I couldn't think of any major mistakes he made.

Zac Williams - 5

You could tell he'd been out for a while and was making his first start. Made some sloppy errors in the first half, but did improve in the 2nd as he started to get forward more. I'm not sure if you start him against MK on Saturday.

Conor Thomas - 6

Did his work screening the defence and did get on the ball, but I thought he was a bit anonymous at times. Not a bad performance, but I wouldn't say he stood out either.

Josh Austerfield - 6

The lad's energy and enthusiasm is excellent to see. Sometimes he just needs to settle down and play with more calmness. He's no Joe White, but he's added tenacity to the Alex's midfield.

Joel Tabiner - 5

Tried to get things going, but a fired up Sutton didn't give him any time and space. Only lasted an hour, which was understandable. Bell has a big call whether to stick with him on Saturday or give Leigh a go.

Shilow Tracey - 7

He was a constant menace in the game. He gave their defence no end of problems. But in typical Tracey fashion, he lacked that end product. There is a lot to like about him. But I'm not sure he'll ever be more than a 5 goal, 5 assist man in L2. Is that enough?

Courtney Baker-Richardson - N/A

CBR sustained possibly the earliest injury I've ever seen as he went for a high ball and landed horribly on his arm and shoulder in the first 2 minutes. If he's out long term, it'll leave Nevitt as their only fit striker. A big worry as we wait to see what his diagnosis is.

Charlie Kirk - 5

He's trying, but he's not getting any joy. I don't think they are doing enough to get him forming partnerships and patterns of play down the left. But he looks jaded and lacking in confidence right now. Another call for the management to make for Saturday, between him and Rowe.

Subs:

Elliott Nevitt - 8 MOTM

Didn't expect to come on so soon, but worked his socks off as usual. Then he got his reward with another goal, as he raced onto Rowe's through ball and just about got the ball past Arnold and over the line.

Aaron Rowe - 7

For the first time in a while, he looked engaged and interested. He kept finding pockets of space and showed great energy. His assist for the goal was inch perfect. Pushing for a start after that.

Lewis Leigh - 6

Showed great enthusiasm when he came on, something Tabiner hadn't been able to provide. Another who is potentially pushing for a start.

Overall Verdict

When we look back at the end of the season and we pick out key results which helped get them to their goal, this game will be right up there. Not because it was a good game, but because it was a massive bounce back result after 2 defeats. They now have to take this confidence and use it to get another result on Saturday. Win that game and suddenly, the top 3 could be back on.