Gillingham 1-0 Crewe Alex 25-26 Review - (Not)Tickled Pink

Sorry for the title, but I wanted to work in a pink pun for the Alex's first outing in their pink and white(or is it white and pink?) 3rd kits. Well, I do think it fits, as I was left distinctly unimpressed by the Alex's late defeat at Priestfield, which keeps a miserable run going at this stadium. I will once again add though that this is no overreaction to their first league defeat of the season. This is just me pointing out what went wrong in this particular game and me hoping that the management spot the mistakes and learn from them going into their next game. Here is my review of the defeat to the Gills:

Slack

I didn't expect to them to run around like blue arsed flies every week. It's just not sustainable. But what I do expect is better than we saw today. Misplaced passes and launching it long way too often were the story of their overall play, which was easy for the 3 giant Gills defenders to mop up. There wasn't enough energy in midfield and there ineffective and absent performances from several of them.

If Gareth Ainsworth could have asked the Alex to play a certain way in order to help his team win, the Alex did it today. They played into their opponents hands and that is so frustrating.

Changes

Again, they've been virtually flawless through the first 4 games, so this isn't me getting on their backs, but what on earth were the changes from the management about? The first 2 changes off the bench were Emre Tezgel and James Golding, for Owen Lunt and Calum Agius. Ok, the 2 players off was fine as they'd struggled. But as for the 2 players on and the system they were playing, I couldn't tell you. Was Golding in midfield or CB? A bit of both it seemed. Was it a 3-5-2 with Tezgel alongside March or a back 4? Don't know.

Then on 84 minutes, we got 2 more changes, which saw Louis Moult and Charlie Finney off, this time for Conor Thomas and Tommi O'Reilly. Now what was the system? Finney seemed to occupy a right hand midfield role of some kind, Tezgel I think moved into a number 10 spot and Moult went up top on his own. It was confusing and to me, it's no surprise that they conceded so quickly after these changes, even if it was from a set piece.

The changes were utterly baffling and for me, it was the demons of last season creeping in as the management tried to mix things around for no apparent reason. I hope we don't see a repeat of that.

Light

It's worth repeating that the Alex just don't have quality on their bench to kick on late in games. I'm unconvinced by how useful Moult will be, Tezgel has done little and that's about in the way of attacking depth. Yes, getting Holicek and Lankester back in the coming weeks will be huge and hopefully the management add another attacking option in the final week of the transfer window.

But Gillingham today brought on experienced performers in Rowe, Williams and Vokes. The Alex, unfortunately, didn't have those sort of quality. Hopefully they will have more options available to them in the next month or so.

Chances

All the above being said, the Alex should have won. Yes, we can bemoan the tactical decisions or the individual performances of a few, but there were enough chances for them to have been out of sight. In the first half, Demetriou hit the bar, O'Reilly forced Morris into a save and they had a few other openings which they couldn't turn into chances.

Then in the 2nd half, how they didn't go ahead, I don't know. March pounced on a mistake from Morris and was clean through, but somehow rolled it wide when he should have scored. Sanders hit the underside of the bar, an inch lower and he scores a wonder goal.

But most glaringly of all, a great cross from March was met in the middle by Tezgel and all he had to do was tap it into an empty net, but somehow he rolled it onto the post from a yard out. He simply has to score. It's been partially their story through the first 4 games if we're being truthful, which is a good sign that they are creating chances, but a worry that they aren't taking enough of them, as bizarre as that is to say about the fact they've scored 10 through their first 5 games.

Referee Assessment

Woeful. Didn't have any major decisions to make, but she missed a lot of smaller moments and did feel like she gave most 50-50s the home sides way.

Management Assessment

Fine up until the 69th minute, when they felt they needed to chop and change for no apparent reason. Ok, they weren't winning, but they were comfortable and looked set to grind out a 0-0. We can blame missed chances for costing them 3 points, but for me the tactical changes cost them 1.

Player Assessments

Tom Booth

Absolutely rock solid for 88 minutes, then his error leads to the goal. He has to hold onto that ball, it was in his hands. He can't be allowing it to slip through like that, not as such a critical moment. Hopefully this is a learning moment for him.

Lewis Billington

Did well for the most part against the lively Cirino on the right hand side. I'm going to keep saying it though, his lack of attacking end product for me is an issue. Competition to drive him on is needed.

James Connolly

Battled really well against 2 tough forwards in Andrews and Nevitt. Can't think of a lot he did wrong.

Mickey Demetriou

Was a bit unfortunate with the tactical booking he had to take in the 2nd half. He was unlucky not to score in the 1st half as he saw his header clip the bar.

Reece Hutchinson

He did well getting down the flanks to support attacks, but I just felt he could have been a bit quicker and sharper with his final ball. His yellow was also a silly one and the 4th for time wasting the team as a whole have picked up in 5 games.

Conor Thomas

I understood why he started and I think he did his defensive duties well, but why couldn't Powell have been the change for him?

Max Sanders MOTM

Probably the liveliest player on the pitch. Was always looking for the ball and was trying to make things happen throughout. Not to blame for anything that went wrong today.

Tommi O'Reilly

He was a bit wasteful at times, but he was the only player who looked likely to create a goal and he gave Gale no end of trouble before fading. The week off to refresh will do him good I think.

Owen Lunt

Like a few, he found it very tough going and just couldn't get into the game. He found the physicality hard. They need to play more football and less hoofball if he is to be effective, but after 4 great games, he's allowed an ineffective one.

Calum Agius

A quiet game where he really struggled to get involved. That's fine, he's 19 and still learning, he won't dominate every week. Just not his afternoon.

Josh March

Should score, but then he's getting good chances and his cross for Tezgel's chance deserved his 5th assist. Nothing he can do about that.

Subs:

James Golding

He was excellent on Tuesday, but he looked a bit lost today as Gillingham actually started the get the ball down and play in the 2nd half.

Emre Tezgel

I'm going to be honest and say he has to do better. A lot better. That chance on 70 minutes is one that ends up on blooper reels. It's a sitter and it looked harder to miss. He scores that, as he should, and the Alex might well emerge with a 1-0 win.

Charlie Finney

I'm not sure where he was supposed to be playing. Why, when they've introduced him as a winger(which I know isn't his spot) in the last few games, did they suddenly throw him on in what looked to be a midfield role here? Baffling.

Louis Moult

Couldn't really add much upfront as the structure behind him crumbled a little bit. Maybe it's the wrong time to bring it up, but I'm leaning more Kane Hemmings than Chris Porter from him through the opening 3 games he's played. I'm not seeing yet what he brings to the table.

Overall Verdict

There is no need to overreact after 1 defeat. They are still top after all, which after 5 games shows just what a good start they've had. But there were elements today that I'd hoped we'd seen the back of, especially tactically. Having plan Bs and wanting to mix things up isn't a bad thing. But today wasn't the time or place to do it and it backfired. Lessons learnt I hope, move on and hope to bounce back against Swindon after a free week of rest and training.