Gillingham 0-0 Crewe Alex 24/25 Review - Satisfied

460 miles travelled in total, a 14 hour round trip thanks to the UK rail network delaying my departure from Euston. All that for what, on paper, looks to be another bore draw. Well, in reality the 0-0 at Priestfield was far from that. There was a lot more to talk about than you might initially think, mostly positive, some negative. Let's break down the Alex's 13th draw of the season:

Discipline

Let's start with the one big negative, the Alex's ongoing discipline issues. They play with a lot of more edge and gamesmanship under Lee Bell than we ever saw from them under of their previous 5 managers. But they are currently struggling to straddle the line between being savvy and stupid.

Chris Long's reckless lunge against Bradford. Jamie Knight-Lebel's silly grab at Wimbledon on Tuesday. And now Ryan Cooney picking up 2 needless yellow cards in 16 minutes to become the latest player to get sent off. He'll now serve a suspension his 2nd in fact after his earlier 1 match ban for 5 yellows back in December. This red card might get 2 games, given this is his 2nd run in with discipline issues.

They have lost 9 games worth of starts from the aforementioned players serving bans and you include Tracey's for 5 yellows earlier in the season. They rank 5th for yellow cards currently and they can ill afford suspensions when they are dealing with a long injury list. Cooney will be a big miss, but he needs a spell on the sidelines to get his head right.

Dig In

Thankfully, Cooney's ill discipline didn't cost them, unlike Tuesday. They dug in and ground out what was a well earned point. Gillingham will feel they had enough chances towards the end to say they warranted all 3, but the Alex had almost 50% possession, some excellent first half chances and made more passes, even despite having a man less for 23 minutes.

They worked damn hard despite finishing with a totally makeshift defence of Max Conway, Connor O'Riordan, Lewis Billington and Callum Agius. They all stood up and deserved their clean sheet.

Missed Chances

Yes, we know all about the Alex's attacking woes with their 4 main attackers all still sidelined. But they've created enough chances against both Newport and Gillingham to have scored at least a couple. In this game, Jack Powell missed an open goal from 30 yards as he didn't seem to realise he had more time to steady himself and find the target.

Then Matus Holicek missed a rebound from a great Tracey run and shot which he should have done better with. I get these aren't their finishers, but when chances present themselves, they need to take them.

Good Football

I've been impressed by the football they've played in the last 4 games. Sure, it's still ways away from them at their best, but I've liked what I've seen from Harrogate onwards. For most of the season, they've been very effective in both boxes and ineffective between them.

Now those roles have been reversed, as they lack any clinical edge and are conceding sloppy goals, but their all round play is vastly improved. Lowery's return has certainly helped, but he's only 1 player. This should be the blueprint for how they play going forward, even as their senior players return. They have the quality to play good football. Let's see them have the confidence to do it every week.

Finished? Maybe Not

I did wonder if the defeat against Newport was the first nail in their promotion hopes. But even after 1 win from their last 8 games, they still somehow sit in a play-off spot at this moment. Their main rivals for 7th are hardly in great form, Grimsby aside I suppose. Even with half their squad out, they are still grinding out results. If, and it's a big if, they can beat Barrow next week, then get players back ready for the run of promotion 6 pointers in March, they might still have a chance at promotion.

Ref Assessment

Gillingham will bemoan the foul on Marschall for their disallowed goal, but I thought it was pretty clear cut. Yes, he got a few smaller decisions wrong in my opinion, but I can't complain at the sending off and he got the bigger calls spot on.

Management Assessment

Got the starting XI spot on and made the only 2 changes they had available at the right times. A good day for them, they are squeezing blood out of a stone with what they have available at the moment.

Player Assessments

Filip Marschall MOTM

I had originally pegged Tabiner as MOTM, but I'm making a change. He won them this point with some huge moments. His first half save and then a number of massive stops in the 2nd half were key to them getting the clean sheet. He also took some key claims and punches under pressure. He was superb.

Ryan Cooney

From their best player to their worst. He started shakily, did settle down, but his 2 yellows were stupid. The first, just release the ball and get on with things. The 2nd, a reckless challenge 30 yards from goal when on a yellow. Totally needless. Bell hinted post match that some players might be playing themselves out of not just the squad for future games, but the club altogether. I can't help but feel this was a veiled shot at Cooney. I love his heart on sleeve playing style, but he needs to learn when to dial it back a bit.

Connor O'Riordan

A fantastic display, some of his defending was immense. He did struggle when Hawkins came on and gave away a dangerous free kick, but thankfully no damage was done.

Lewis Billington

Asked not only to play at CB for the first time from the start of a game, he had to do it in a makeshift back 4 and on the left. He barely put a foot wrong. The stats say he lost the most duels today, but I don't think they tell the story of his game. I thought he was excellent.

Max Conway

I get they were trying to be cautious, but he didn't get forward enough for my liking, leaving Holicek isolated on the left wing. If they are to move to a 4 at the back system more often, then getting him to kick on as he does at LWB feels really important.

Tommy Lowery

Such a class act, you can see why he's spent the last 2 seasons in a higher division. They have to manage him carefully, but him alongside Sanders and Powell in midfield looks to have potential.

Max Sanders

My only complaint was that both he and Powell kept looking to occupy the same spaces when the Alex were trying to build play. Hopefully they keep playing together and can learn how to space themselves out more effectively.

Jack Powell

I don't want to be too harsh, but he has to score that open net chance. When you don't get many chances, you have to take the ones you do get. And he couldn't. He was decent, but that chance was a big one.

Joel Tabiner

A close contender for man of the match, he was a man possessed on the Alex's right hand side. It was like he played with more freedom because he can do the tricks and skills out wide as it won't cost them. Have they spent the last 2 seasons trying to force him into a CM role when they should have been using him as a wide player all along? His drag back and roll in the 2nd half was incredible.

Matus Holicek

Like Powell, he has to do better with that rebound from Tracey's shot. He's been decent in his 2nd season as a pro, but finding a way to get in more consistent scoring positions and increasing his goal tally is something he really needs to work on. That being said, he was a bit isolated on the left at times.

Shilow Tracey

Drifted in and out of the game, but he picked up a worrying looking injury when he went down after clattering into Morris. Hopefully they aren't about to add another attacker to their injury list.

Subs:

Adrien Thibaut

He might lack threat in the penalty area, but outside of the box he's such a pest. He drew a booking out of Max Ehmer and put himself about really well. That being said, he looked puffed towards the end, which is a concern given he only played 43 minutes.

Callum Agius

Came on as an emergency right back and didn't let them down, which was pleasing to see. It's nice to see him getting game time, even if it's when the team are struggling.

Overall Verdict

They are still scrapping away. The lack of goals remains a big concern, as they look incapable of scoring at the moment. But, you can't question the commitment and desire the players are showing. If they could just keep 11 men on the pitch and get a few bodies back in the coming weeks, then their season might still be alive. A lot hinges on the Barrow game.