Fleetwood Town 1-4 Crewe Alex 25-26 Review - A Statement Win

Winning on the opening day can be counted as catching the opposition cold. Beating 2 poor looking teams at home in Accrington and Crawley can be counted as doing just that, beating up on 2 poor teams. But if the rest of League Two wasn't paying attention to Crewe Alex in the early part of the season, they absolutely should be now. The way they thoroughly and completely dismantled a Fleetwood team that had were looking strong in the early stages of the season was a joy to behold and I hope other teams are now starting to take notice. This Alex team might be for real. Here is my review of their dissection of the cod army:

Intensity

The first 20 minutes of the first half, Fleetwood just couldn't live with the Alex, much like the first 3 games. The Alex were snapping into tackles, breaking up play, closing down with energy and purpose. But when they won the ball back, there was a clear game plan of how to punish Fleetwood and boy did they. March's run and cross barely a minute in forced former Alex man Toby Mullarkey to clumsily turn into his own net.

However, you did start to worry as the 2nd goal wouldn't come. Lunt, Billington, March, Sanders and Demetriou all had chances come and go. You worried that it would be similar to Crawley, where they would rue missed chances. But then, a lovely bit of play from Powell and then Lunt sent March scampering clear and he calmly lifted the ball over the stranded Jay Lynch and into the far corner from 30 yards out to give the Alex breathing room. It was no more than they deserved. It should, yet again, have been game over by half time.

Dreamland

Whilst taking the 2-0 lead into the 2nd half was fine, you did worry about the 2nd half. The Alex had yet to score in the 2nd half of a league game this season and you feared that if they sat back and allowed Fleetwood on to them, things would be very nervy. Well, any possibility of that was settled after 10 minutes of 2nd half play. First, more smart attacking play set up Calum Agius, who curled in a beautiful strike into the top corner. Then Reece Hutchinson powered in the box and his fierce effort squirmed under Lynch's hand.

4-0! 4-0, away from home, for the first time since they battered Stevenage before Christmas in 2019. The scenes in the away end were jubilation mixed with pure shock. We've not seen this from a Crewe side in half a decade. Yes, I know they won 4-1 at Forest Green and 4-2 at Crawley in 23-24, but in those games, the Alex trailed. Here, they took the lead and never let up. Incredible.

Penalty Frustration

If there was one minor gripe, it was the penalty they conceded. I hate criticising Lunt given he was MOTM and the best player on the pitch, but his going through the back of the Fleetwood player allowed the Cod to get a goal they didn't deserve. It ended their mini clean sheet streak, but to be fair, through 4 games they've conceded just 2 goals and one has been from the spot. Keep that sort of defensive prowess going and they'll be right up there come the end of the season.

Team Effort

Much like the first 3 games, the Alex's win in this game was built on hard work and it being a total team effort, from back to front. Booth was faultless for the most part and in front of him, the back 4 defended like lions. The midfield trio were utterly incredible, including Jack Powell, brought in from the cold and given a chance in place of the rested Conor Thomas. As for the front 3, they were their usual menacing selves, with a goal each for Agius and March.

But the plaudits shouldn't stop with the starting XI. James Golding was excellent off the bench, mopping up a lot of the long balls Fleetwood were chucking forward. Finney, Tezgel and Thibaut all also put themselves about and made a nuisance. Every player who stepped on that pitch contributed.

Short Handed

You want to know the scary part about this game, and the first 4 games in general? They are doing it with a wafer thin squad. In this game they were down Lankester, Tabiner, Holicek, Tracey, Moult and Thomas. That's 6 players who would all have made the squad had they been fit, with 5 of them being attackers. The squad is also 1-2 bodies light transferwise, which the manager knows and is seemingly working towards fixing.

If they can score 10 goals across 4 games without some of their better attacking talent on the pitch, how good could they be when the likes of Holicek and Lankester return to fitness in the coming weeks? That's something that should scare the living daylights out of L2 defences.

Ref Assessment

He was pretty good, especially in the 2nd half when several incidents blew up. Yes, it felt like he was dishing out yellows too quickly, but I felt he handled all the big moments fairly well. Tom Kirk, you are removed from my shit list. For now.

Management Assessment

What a revelation. From being booed and even hearing calls for his sacking just 4 months ago, Lee Bell and his coaching staff have realised that the only way they are going to get success is by trusting in youth, not overstuffing the team with loanees and by letting them go and play attack minded football. It's been a joy to watch and they all deserve as much credit as the players do.

Player Assessments

Tom Booth

Unfortunate with the penalty, which just evaded his legs. He could have claimed a cross in the first half, but aside from that, he was excellent with what he was asked to do.

Lewis Billington

Kept Denver Hume very quiet down Fleetwood's left and whilst he didn't have a lot of joy going forward, he was excellent defensively. He's becoming really consistent, which is a great sign.

James Connolly

Another who is becoming very consistent. He did get into a mess with one long ball in the first half, but then he's not going to be perfect. Still, he dealt well with Graydon and Davies and kept what on paper was a dangerous front 2 quiet.

Mickey Demetriou

What a performance. He bailed the Alex out on a few occasions, but his most notable contribution was a massive tackle which allowed them to go on the attack and score the 2nd. It was a game winning moment and his part in it shouldn't go unnoticed.

Reece Hutchinson

Pfft, this goal was nowhere near as good as his first against Accrington was. Poor. In all seriousness, I love that we have a left back who will, at 3-0 up, put his head down, drive into the box and fire in a shot. We have a full back with end product. Incredible.

Max Sanders

In amongst a sea of MOTM performances, he was very very close to grabbing it. Dictated the play, his set pieces were good. He looks like a man possessed.

Jack Powell

In from the cold, he had a lot of eyeballs on him to see if he could show he still had gas in the tank. Well, here he showed that he most definitely still does. His quick feet set up the 2nd and he got an assist on the 4th. Rumours of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Tommi O'Reilly

A quiet evening in front of goal, but he grafted and worked hard. He'll have these games where he isn't that influential, but he remains a threat.

Owen Lunt MOTM

Another outstanding performance. Yes, the yellow card and penalty giveaway were unfortunate, but they don't detract from an incredible performance. I've asked for him to find some attacking end product if he is to play as a number 10. Well, 2 assists in this game is doing just that. Superb.

Calum Agius

He was lively down the left hand side, but my word was his finish for the 3rd and game killing goal incredible. First time, leaning back, from the edge of the box and he still finds the top corner. 2 goals in his first 4 starts. And he'll only turn 20 next month. What a talent.

Josh March

A typical March performance, but whilst his assist streak is at an end(it shouldn't be, he deserves an assist on Mullarkey's OG), he got a goal instead. It was a fantastic bit of composure when he could have panicked. I'm delighted he's off the mark for the season.

Subs:

James Golding

He was excellent when he came, mopping up and dealing with various Fleetwood threats in a CM role. I don't think they need a CM on this evidence, he looks to give them some emergency depth.

Charlie Finney

Still being pulled from pillar to post, this time he comes in a RW role. He was fine in what he was asked to do and carried the ball well on a couple of occasions.

Emre Tezgel

You feel for the lad, but whilst the starting XI are playing so well, a bench role will have to be it for him for now. He'll get his chance, but it won't be any time soon.

Adrien Thibaut

His usual lively self, he got stuck in and pestered the Fleetwood back line.

Overall Verdict

We're 4 games in. Nothing is won in 4 games. Bell is right to keep a lid on things and not get carried away, because form can flip overnight in football. But he's earned the right to enjoy moments like this. As have the players, all the staff at the club and of course, the fans. These are the nights and moments you live for. This season has been more exciting and fun through 4 games than it was in the entirety of last season. Onto Gillingham.