Salford City 1-3 Crewe Alex 25-26 Review - A Benchmark

I have plenty of other talking points, although this could be one all on it's own. But that performance today needs to be the benchmark for the rest of the season. Not the high water mark. Do I think they'll roll into every game, put up 22 shots, 10 on target and score 3? No, of course. There are lots of other tests coming their way and how they respond to them will shape their season. But that today was everything we've wanted to see from a Crewe side in arguably 18 months. If they strive to hit today's levels, they won't be far off where they want to be in 45 games time. Here is my review of their opening day win at Salford:

Intent

I've said it for the whole summer, but the biggest improvement Bell and his management staff needed to make wasn't just in terms of who they signed, but in terms of how they asked the squad to play. What Crewe fans expect from an Alex team is one that plays on the front foot, looks to attack teams and tries to create chances. No, we don't expect to it work out quite as well as it did today. But as long as the plan and intent are there, we can forgive a lot of their shortcomings. Today's performance would never have happened last season and I've got the stats to prove it...

Surpassed

Last season, the most shots on target they managed in a game was 8. This season, it has taken them 1 game to better that. 1 game! Their 22 shots today have already bettered 45 of last season's games. The only game where they managed that total was away at Port Vale, when they had 24. But of course, the obvious caveat there was that the Vale were down to 10 men for most of the 2nd half.

This was an incredible attacking performance, one that could and should have been more, given the 2 chances missed by Agius, 1 by March, O'Reilly hitting the bar, Connolly having several opportunities. Again, I know it won't be that good every game, but if they can reach these levels on a regular basis and without Lankester and Holicek, then everyone else in League Two should sit up and take notice.

Team Performance

What was also impressive today was the fact it was such a complete team performance. March was everything they lacked last season, a player that can not only win headers and stretch defences, but has end product at the end of moves. His cross for Thomas' goal was outstanding. O'Reilly and Agius were lively out wide. Lunt, Sanders and Thomas were tenacious in midfield. Connolly and Demetriou were superb at both ends. Hutchinson was strong and good on the ball on the left.

Then of course, we have Tom Booth, who had(and probably still has) doubters coming into the season. Well, he responded and then some with several good saves, including from a 4th minute penalty which could have this game head to a very different outcome. There were a few nitpicks and things to improve on in various areas, but they all grafted and put in a heck of a shift. Good luck picking a man of the match award out of that lot.

Response

Speaking of the penalty award, it appears asking to go 1 game at Salford without a honking refereeing decision going against the Alex was too much to ask for. I get Demetriou did pull their lad. But again, it happens in every box at both ends in every single game of football. I watched Billington get his shirt ripped off on several Alex corners. No penalty. I watched Josh March get manhandled to the ground several times. No free kick.

Was Mr Hair trying to make a name for himself? I don't know, but it was a woeful decision given he never followed up by giving more decisions based on pulling and grabbing. Thankfully this time, it didn't cost them a result.

Keep it going

The Alex responded well to the initial penalty, to Salford's equaliser and stood up against a tough, physical side who will win more than they lose and will likely be up near the top end of the table come the end of the season. But I think the message Bell will be getting into his players is not to get carried away. This is 1 win and 3 points. Nothing more. If they want to achieve their goals, they'll need 18-20 more wins.

Accrington and Crawley will present a very different test. How they play at home against teams that might look to sit deep and stifle them will be interesting to see. How they respond to a bad result or even falling behind will be interesting to see. But as I said to start this review, let this to be the minimum standard in terms of workrate and effort.

Ref Assessment

Horrendous. His inconsistency was infuriating and it's easy to see why he only did 15 games last season. It was a woeful performance from him, starting with the penalty. It never got better.

Management Assessment

Game plan perfect. Intent, perfect. Nothing to criticise at all. Please just don't panic and revert to old habits should the odd result/bad performance crop up in the coming weeks.

Player Assessments

Tom Booth

Superb. His penalty save set the tone and he made a number of big stops. Maybe he could have done slightly better with the Salford equaliser, but that's only a maybe. He could do with taking a couple of notches off his kicking off, they were sailing right through to the other end. Still, an excellent performance.

Lewis Billington

Probably the only player who struggled, he got turned inside out by Harris for the equaliser and found it tough going up against him for most of the afternoon. He did have some good moments and was unlucky with a shot that was blocked in the first half. But he will need to improve if they add right back depth in the coming weeks.

James Connolly

Took a sensible tactical booking, but aside from that he was excellent at both ends. He was unlucky that the opener wasn't credited to him as it deserved to be. He also marshalled Stockton really well and won all his headers. A strong display.

Mickey Demetriou

The penalty award was ridiculously harsh, but aside from that he was dominant in defence and a threat at the other end. A typical captains performance.

Reece Hutchinson

Got forward well and did his defensive duties admirably. Didn't make any major contributions to the game, but did the quiet stuff effectively. A solid debut all round.

Max Sanders

His best game in a Crewe shirt. Snapping into tackles, quick with his passing, looking to break forward when he could. His set pieces were mostly good, which is a positive development.

Conor Thomas

Leading the goalscoring charts after week 1? Yeah, we all called it. His first brace in his career, his first season with 2 non-penalty goals since 2020-21. His first was excellent movement to ghost into the box and his 2nd, well you buy a ticket and gamble, you win the raffle like the keeper dropping it. Fair play to him, he was superb today.

Owen Lunt MOTM

Played in the number 10 role and whilst he didn't look like an orthodox attacking midfield, he was outstanding. Winning the ball back, picking it up in dangerous spots and looking to make things happen. He's got a lot to prove and he's gone some way to doing just that. An excellent start.

Tommi O'Reilly

Not everything came off, but at times he was unplayable, as his tricks and turns and runs caused Salford no end of problems. He was so unlucky to see his free kick crash off the bar, as it honestly deserved more. A superb debut.

Josh March

Everything they lacked last season. A striker who can not only compete with CBs for headers, but one who has end product at the end of it. His cross for Thomas' goal was outstanding and all because he chased a lost cause. He worked himself into the ground and whilst he noticeably tired late on, he more than earned the break. An outstanding debut, the only thing missing was a goal.

Callum Agius

Like a few in the team, the only thing his performance lacked was a goal, but it wasn't for the want of trying, as he was twice denied by Matt Young with 2 fine saves. If he carries on like this, the Alex are going to have a real weapon on their hands.

Subs:

Emre Tezgel

Didn't have much chance to get involved, hopefully he'll have longer in the coming weeks. Although if the starting XI play like they did today, he'll have to wait his turn.

Louis Moult

With only 6 minutes of game time, it's hard to judge him.

Charlie Finney

Ditto

Jack Powell

Same

Overall Verdict

An outstanding performance that had in spades a lot of what was missing last season. But still, this is only one game. There are a lot of tough tests to come in the next few weeks, starting with 2 home games against what appear to be favourable opposition. Can they make that count and, dare I say it, emerge with 3 wins from their opening 3?