Crewe Alex 1-1 Bristol Rovers 25-26 Review - Proud

I'll be honest, I was edging towards taking a point out of this game anyway. Yes, against the side 23rd in the league who had lost 10 straight at home in front of a bumper crowd, that sounds negative, but the law of averages and new manager bounce working in Bristol Rovers favour was so strong, I was almost at the point where I was justifying a poor performance and draw. In the end, the Alex got a draw, but not in the fashion I quite suspected. This is my review of their point against the Gas.

Proud

I'm proud of the vast majority of the players on that pitch tonight. Yes, there were some scruffy performances and some terrible mistakes, from the players that didn't get sent off at least. But on the whole, they were excellent. By far the better team at 11 v 11, they probably edged it at 10 v 11. They on the whole deserved a point and maybe more. They can feel satisfied from their efforts after playing for two thirds of the game with 10 men.

10 v 14

Anyone who consistently reads my reviews, hats off to you. But anyone who does knows I'm not one for calling out referees or their assistants. I'll get angry at them for making bad decisions, but I don't call them out in a big way. However, tonight I'll make an exception for referee Michael Barlow and whichever muppet assistant was running the line on the pop side.

I can't comment on the Thibaut red card and whether it was justified, but the decision not to send off Southwood for DOGSO after he deliberately handled outside the area was baffling. As was his decision to not send off Mola for hauling March down on the touchline. Both were egregiously bad calls I'd feel aggrieved about if they weren't given in a Sunday league game. Barlow was a disgrace and his assistants weren't much better.

Disappointed

Players make mistakes. We saw plenty tonight. But the kind of mistake Thibaut made was inexcusable. Given a big opportunity to lead the line and he blew it, big time. I get he's still young and learning, but you can't have players who are liabilities on the pitch and he's a liability. Think back 2 starts in the league when he triggered the scrap at the end of the game at Tranmere last season, which got Zac Williams sent off. He's got previous for stupid actions. Sure he looks decent in the Trophy and for sides struggling in the 6th tier. But he isn't an EFL calibre player and he should have made his last start in a Crewe shirt, it's that simple.

Tactical Masterclass

Whilst the decision to let Tezgel carry on despite him clearly being injured was a poor one and not the first time that's happened either, I will say that aside the management played a blinder tonight with their decision making. I remember a similar game back in 2011-12 where the Alex were against Steve Evans' Crawley. 1-0 up after 9 minutes, they lost Shaun Miller to a red card 6 minutes later and Crawley equalised after half an hour.

Steve Davis then switched to a 4-3-2 system and it worked perfectly. Ok, the Alex didn't win the game, but they gave a good account of themselves. That system has always stuck in my mind as the ideal system to play a man down, as it keeps the defensive shape, gets 3 men in midfield and gives you 2 up top to send the ball long to.

Tonight it was the same as Josh March partnered Dion Rankine upfront after Thibaut and Tezgel went off and it worked brilliantly. They were a danger on the break, had Rovers pushed back for good chunks of the 2nd half and maybe even deserved to nick the win. Bell can take huge credit for that tactical switch, because get it wrong and it could have been a disaster.

Ref Assessment

Incompetent. A game and occasion which was far too big for him. And his officials.

Management Assessment

The Tezgel late sub aside, they did really well to re-organise after the red card. What they come up with for Boxing Day will be fascinating given they are now 2 more attackers light.

Player Assessments

Sam Waller

Was good at Tranmere, but pretty poor tonight. His mix up with Connolly for the equaliser was terrible and he almost got caught out later in the game. His kicking was poor as well. Need to see a lot more at Walsall.

Calum Agius

Looks like a square peg in a round hole, which he is. They desperately need to get him out of the RB spot, because he's like a fish out of water there currently.

James Connolly

Simply not good enough in any aspect of his play. Costing this team goals week in, week out. If he's the starting RCB come February, something will have gone badly wrong. They need an upgrade on him in the worst way.

Lewis Billington

Not brilliant, but battled well in an unfamiliar spot. He too needs to either play at RCB or move back to RB, because he looks very uncomfortable at LCB. Hopefully Demetriou's return isn't too far away.

Reece Hutchinson MOTM

A solid display from Hutch, he defended well for the most part and tried to attack as much as he could. His assist for Tezgel's goal was a beauty.

Max Sanders

Battled brilliantly in midfield, not a lot more he could do. Unlucky that the edge of the box effort in the 2nd half fell on his left, not his right.

Owen Lunt

Doesn't look comfortable playing deeper, his positioning is all over the place. He put in a shift, but finding a way to move him further forward is a must I think, as he doesn't seem suited to a deeper midfield role.

Tommi O'Reilly

Was having plenty of joy on the right, but the half time switch to put him in a midfield nullified him, which I do understand.

Emre Tezgel

Why can't we have nice things? His 8th league goal of the season and his 5th in 5 games was an outstanding finish, but his injury was a cruel blow. We just have to hope and pray it isn't too serious. And that this isn't the last we've seen of him in a Crewe shirt.

Josh March

Looked worryingly leggy in the first half when switched to the middle, but found new energy in the 2nd half alongside Rankine. In the thick of it for both Southwood and Mola's red card offences and the possible penalty shout.

Adrien Thibaut

Let the whole club down with his actions tonight. He'll feel bad enough about it, I get that. But with him now out until 2026, I hope and expect that this is the last time we see him in the squad. He simply isn't good enough.

Subs:

Dion Rankine

Ran his socks off and had the odd flash, but a MOTM performance? Not for me. He probably starts at Walsall now, so I'm interested to see what he can do from the start.

Louis Moult

Not good enough. Needs to be moved on in January and an upgrade found. Or hope Bogle comes back and stays fit.

Jack Powell

Didn't have a lot of chance to do anything, but he's another who I think they need to shift and find an upgrade for.

Overall Verdict

Yes, on the surface it's another lead squandered against a relegation threatened team. But in reality, it's a decent point with the odds stacked heavily against them. The challenge now though is that they are missing more players and they face the side currently top of the division on the road on Boxing Day. Not ideal. Still, they are at their best when the odds are stacked against them. Let's hope that's the same next Friday.