Crewe Alex v Doncaster Rovers 23/24 Play-Offs 1st Leg Preview - Bonus

I didn't start writing this blog until 2014. So this is officially my first ever preview of a Crewe Alex play-off game. I'm very much in unfamiliar territory. Still, I'll do my best to look ahead to their game against Donny tomorrow. Can the Alex's fairytale story of a season continue any further? Or have they used up all their good luck charms and the in form Donny are about to make very short work of them? Here is my preview of the game:

Bonus

This is a game they never expected to be playing at the start of the season. Sure, by March I think they very much thought the play-offs would be achieved at the minimum, but the fact is this should still be seen as a bonus couple of games for them, starting with the first leg. That means they should enjoy every moment and not play like the weight of the world is on their shoulders, as arguably they have done of late.

Pressure Free

I know the Alex are at home, which has been the site of some of their worst performances of the season in the last couple of months. They will be playing in front of a big expectant crowd who'll want to see a performance from them. But at the same time, Donny will be the ones drawing the focus.

Their 12 game unbeaten streak coming into the play-offs is absurd. They will be the team everyone expects to win and win comfortably. Nobody will give the Alex a chance. That's the motivation Bell needs to instill in his players. Go out and play with freedom.

Game Plan

It's hard to know what the game plan should be to be honest. To get to Wembley, they will need to win at least one of the games, unless they are playing for penalties. I'm sure they will try to win this game with it being at home. But how?

Every time they've tried to go for it at home recently, they've lost heavily. But will sitting deep and trying to counter attack be effective? Bell and Dicker have a tough job on their hands trying to figure out a way to win this game with what they have at their disposal. Get it wrong though and the 2nd leg could be a formality.

History

The Alex need to channel history in this one. In 2012, they played at home in the first leg against Southend, won and then drew the 2nd leg. They did the same in 96-97 to Luton. In fact, in their entire history of the play-offs, they are yet to lose a play-off game at home. They have gone 3-3-0 in that span. You feel like for them to have any shot at getting through to Wembley, they will need to win this game as well. Because going to the Keepmoat with the game level on aggregate or them trailing seems like too tall an order for this group currently. If they emerge at the end of the game with their unbeaten home play-off streak extended, that for me will be an acceptable result.

Sods Law

Getting past arguably the most challenging team in the play-offs is going to be tough though. They have a striker on fire in Joe Ironside. They have 2 dangerous wingers in Luke Molyneux and Hakeeb Adelakun. The likes of Owen Bailey in the middle and Richard Wood at the back. Experience and quality litter their team. Don't get me wrong, they are still a L2 side. But they are the toughest opponents the Alex could have faced in my opinion.

However, how many times have we seen a team come into a game in form and marked as heavy favourites and come a cropper? How many times have we seen a badly out of form team pull a shock out? That's the beauty of football. The Alex have been discounted before. They'll be discounted in this one. So wouldn't it be the perfect encapsulation of sods law to see them spring one more surprise?

Ref Watch

Sunny Singh Gill

Gill had a lot of publicity for becoming the first British Asian referee to take charge of a top flight game earlier this season. He was the Alex's referee for their game at Bradford last season where they drew 0-0. Here we get to see if his promotions and rises through the EFL are deserved.

2023/24 Record: 47 games(1 Premier League, 10 Championship, 15 League One, 12 League Two, 2 League Cup, 4 FA Cup, 3 EFL Trophy), 180 yellows, 6 reds

Last Game: Lincoln City 0-2 Portsmouth, League One, 27th April 2024, 10 yellows

Crewe Alex Record: 0-1-0, 2 yellows

Injuries/Absences

Crewe Alex

Lewis Leigh serves the final game of his suspension. Elsewhere, the return dates of Conor Thomas and Ed Turns were pushed back again, with their availability for this game now in doubt. It could be Bell playing his cards close to his chest, but it's a worry. Another worry were the injuries to Holicek(ankle), Long(knee) and, for the first time, Billington(calf). If those players all miss out, then it's going to severely limit what they can do starting XI wise.

Doncaster

It looked for a few days like the Alex wouldn't be facing Timothee Lo-Tutala after his red card against Gillingham, but it was surprisingly overturned, making him available for this game. They will be sweating on the fitness of Harrison Biggins, whilst Ben Close, Maxime Biamou and Jack Senior will likely be absent.

Team

Um, what does Bell do here if the above players are missing? Can't go 4-3-3, because who's your 3rd midfielder behind Tabiner and Austerfield? Can't go with 3 at the back, because other than Williams and Demetriou, who plays alongside them? I always work on a worst case scenario for my team selections, but for this exercise, I'll assume Bell is being secretive about Thomas and he will in fact be fit to play.

He starts in midfield alongside Tabiner and Austerfield. Upfront, I'll start Kirk after last weeks heroics and on the right it'll have to be Tracey, because as I've said for weeks, I'm done with Aaron Rowe. At the back I'll go with Cooney at RB, unless Billington is fit in which case he starts instead.

Score Prediction

Do I go with my heart and say they'll scrap out something respectable like a draw? Or with my head and say this will be a comfortable defeat? I think I'll go with my heart and say they'll battle to a draw that keeps things open heading into the 2nd leg.

Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Doncaster Rovers