Crewe Alex 1-2 Doncaster Rovers 25-26 FA Cup Review - Painful

Can we just withdraw from this competition? Honestly, it feels preferable to having to see them exit in painful fashion season after season. After leading 1-0 at half time, they concede twice to exit the FA Cup at the first hurdle yet again. Oh well, time to focus on the league I suppose. Here is my review of the painful late defeat to Donny:

Horror Story

It feels appropriate that less than 24 hours after Halloween, the Alex added to their own FA Cup horror show over the years with another defeat. Sure, this wasn't a dreadful performance and they probably deserved a draw over 90 minutes, but this defeat now means they have won just 4 of their last 19 home matches in this competition and failed to make the 3rd round in 18 of the last 20 seasons. It's a truly atrocious record and one that falls under many, many people. I honestly don't blame fans for staying away from games. Magic? What magic?!

Schoolboy defending

As Bell alluded to after the MK defeat, there is a worryingly soft underbelly with this team this season. Both goals against were dreadful ones to concede. A quick counter attack, defenders not tracking their men and a shot going right through the keeper. Then in the final few minutes, they fall asleep at a free kick and they don't track Owen Bailey, who ghosted in to score. A goalscoring midfielder. Don't know what one of those is sorry.

When they are still finding their feet as an attacking force(which in itself is a concern after 15 games), they need the backline to stay steady, but at the moment they are letting in too many goals. Again, they are a Demetriou injury away from being in massive, massive trouble.

Gap in Quality

There was a noticeable gap in quality today. The Alex made up for that with a proper hard working display full of graft and competitive spirit, but there is a reason Donny are in L1 and the Alex are in L2. Donny moved the ball well, found pockets of space and overloads on multiple occasions.

It was a more even game than the stats suggest for anyone not attending, but there was a gulf in quality for good stretches of the game.

Season Over?

No, of course the season isn't over. We are 14 games into the league campaign and if they can find a way to stay in contention for a play-off place or more, then there is very much plenty of excitement to be had.

But if we are being real, that race doesn't get interesting until March time at the earliest, with about 10-15 games to go. And with the Alex now out of all major competitions(forgetting the Vertu Trophy nonsense) and it's not even Bonfire Night yet, there is a sense that if their league season goes sideways, interest in this team over the next 4 months if going to wain I suspect. They will now have to fully focus on the league and pray they can find some form and consistency, otherwise these long cold winter months are going to drag.

Referee Assessment

More utter nonsense from Mr Hair. Free kicks given that never were. No free kicks given for stone wall fouls. Maybe even a missed handball by the Alex for a penalty in the 2nd half. He probably didn't influence the result, but he was god awful once again.

Management Assessment

I'm not sure what else they could have done differently to be honest. I get the changes and when and why they happened. I would have liked to have seen Rankine and Moult on 5-10 minutes earlier, but it's a nitpick. Still, I hope they enjoyed their free hit, as the pressure is well and truly back on them now.

Player Assessments

Sam Waller

Not impressed. A couple of routine saves were fine, but twice he parried back in to dangerous areas and Sharp's goal went straight through him. I wouldn't be in a rush to start him in the league.

Jay Mingi

A welcome start, he looked a bit lost in the first 10 minutes but grew into it and started to look like the player that had signed for Stockport from Colchester. I'd like to see him start next week, especially if whatever kept Billington out of the squad today continues.

James Connolly

A nice lad, but he just isn't up to it. A very poor defender and whilst I get they aren't stacked with options behind him, Golding or Billington has to be preferable at this point.

Mickey Demetriou MOTM

A captain's performance at both ends, for the most part. I'd like to see his role in the goals against, but he took his goal superbly and was commanding for the most part in the air. Didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

Charlie Finney

A steadier outing for him. There were a few baffling moments from him, but I'd be tempted to give him another game or 2 just to preserve Hutchinson for a bit longer.

Max Sanders

Another who didn't deserve to lose the game. His crossing wasn't great, but he put in another all action midfield display.

Conor Thomas

Yes, some of the defensive stuff he does is important. No doubt. But my god, am I alone in expecting a midfielder to be comfortable on the ball? Have we ever wondered why this team struggles so much in possession? Is there no common denominator?

Tommi O'Reilly

I thought he had a mixed afternoon. He got the assist on Demetriou's goal, which is nice, but the rest of what he tried to do he struggled with. I think they were right to take him off, with Lankester still struggling for fitness, he's the only creative player they have at the moment.

Owen Lunt

I like a lot of what he does in the number 10 spot. Runs like a jack russell, snaps into challenges and even links in the play at times. But that chance he missed in the first half shows his limitations and the issues with him in an attacking spot. He doesn't look like creating or scoring. Which is a problem. So where does he play?

Calum Agius

I'm sorry, I don't want to keep banging on at him, but he needs to come out of the line up. He is adding very little of note and whilst I acknowledge some of that is a lack of service, he looks short on confidence and is even shorter on impact.

Emre Tezgel

Tried his best, but came up against a very talented L1 CB in Connor O'Riordan, who barely gave him a sniff. He ran his socks off and battled gamely. Hopefully he'll have more success against Shrewsbury next week.

Subs:

Reece Hutchinson

Tried to get forward but I think he was asleep and not tight enough to Molyneux for the winner, which is inexcusable.

Matus Holicek

A couple of nice tricks and flicks. I'd start him on the left wing next week.

Louis Moult

It is too much to ask him to jump for a high ball? And ask him to not waste what could have been a decent attacking position by going for a halfway line lob?

Dion Rankine

A few nice touches, but not much of an impact in truth. Still, give him some regular game time off the bench and let's see what he can do.

Overall Verdict

A very disappointing afternoon. Yes, there are positives to take, but at the end of the day, the FA Cup is about results, nor plaudits. And they didn't get the result, after leading at half time. Focus on the league is a slightly depressing consolation at this point in time.