Salford City v Crewe Alex 25-26 Preview - Changing Fortunes?
- Standing Alone
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
We all feeling refreshed, revitalised and ready for a new season then? Here we go again, as the Alex are back and they find themselves on the road to start a season for the 3rd time in 4 years. And after trips north to play Rochdale in 22-23 and Barrow in 24-25, it's another short visit north, with Moor Lane the Alex's destination. Can they end their hoodoo at both this ground and in opening day fixtures, or will both those woes continue on for another year? Here is my preview of their visit to Salford:
Pitch
Last season when the Alex visited Moor Lane in March, the pitch resembled a beach. I know Crewe fans can hardly criticise any teams' pitch given the state of Gresty Road for much of last season, but Salford's was appalling. Well thankfully, with this game kicking off on the opening day, the pitch should be pristine and won't be a factor, even if it's distinct slope makes for an interesting watch.
Changing Fortunes
As I alluded to in the opening section, and as I mention every year when discussing game 1 of the season, the Alex are very poor on the opening day. 5 wins from their last 25 on Matchday 1 going back to 2001-02 is a terrible record and it needs improving, fast. Unfortunately they get picked to go to a ground where they've never won before. Ok, it's only been 4 visits, but still, not the place you'd want to visit to try and get the season off to a positive start.
However, last season the Alex got a well earned draw at Moor Lane and probably should have won it on chances created. It was the first time they'd emerged from Salford with something to show for their efforts and it was arguably done without officiating help yet again, as the home side's opener looked offside. Does that draw highlight a shift in fortunes both at this ground and in turn, on the opening day for the Alex? I sure hope so.
Attacking Issues
We know full well how bad the Alex's attacking issues were last season. But they were especially pronounced on the road, where they scored just 19 goals. Only 4 sides produced fewer. Ironically, their final away goal of last season was Connor O'Riordan's thunderbolt at this ground.
No matter which way you stack the away goalscoring numbers, they were poor last season. But this one perhaps sums their issues up the best: In 11 away games in 2025, the Alex scored 6 goals. And half of those came in the 3-1 win at Chesterfield. Can they start to fix that problem with a positive showing here?
Shaky Defence
Well, they have half a chance given defence was an area Salford struggled with last season. After a run of 6 straight clean sheets between December and early January, they then managed just 2 in their final 22, conceding 35 across those games. And in addition, they have let a lot of experience walk out the door, with Curtis Tilt, Jon Taylor, Liam Shepherd, Matty Lund, Conor McAleny and Ryan Watson all departing. They've brought in younger players to replace them and with that can come an inherent weakness at the back. That appears to have transferred over, as their pre-season results...
Home Problems
Another issue Salford had last season that the Alex can exploit is their home form. After winning 8 of their first 12 games at Moor Lane, they won just 2 of their final 11, going 2-5-4 in that stretch. Their only wins came against a struggling Tranmere side and worn down Colchester. They let leads slip against Bradford, Crewe and Gillingham and they needed to come from behind to rescue draws against Bromley and Doncaster. Unless they fix their results at Moor Lane, they'll continue to finish outside the top 7. And that gives the Alex their opening.
Keep Your Heads
One final thought is about discipline. Lee Bell and Charles Grant have acknowledged the need for this area to improve after the players repeatedly got into trouble with officials last season. Well, they get a nice early test of these improvements against one of the nastiest sides in the division. Salford finished 3rd in fouls per game, 4th in yellow cards and joint 4th in red cards last season. In 23-24, they were 4th in fouls, joint top in yellow cards and top in reds.
The Alex's visit in March saw 8 yellows dished out, 4 for either team. Karl Robinson is renown for his fiery and combative approach on the sidelines and he'll do anything he can to ensure his side get off to a good start. The Alex will need to ensure they keep their heads, as they forgot to do too often last season.
Statement
The Alex are in dire need of a strong start. With 2 very winnable home games coming up after this, they have a great chance to do just that. But how valuable would a win here be I wonder? Sure, I think most Alex fans would take a draw right now if you offered it to them. And I bet the manager deep down would as well.
A win would be a massive statement of intent that maybe they won't be the bottom half dwellers most pundits have them down to be. Beating a genuine play-off contender away from home on the opening day would make the rest of the league sit up and take notice. Yes, it's only 1 game and it wouldn't make anyone start planning the promotion parade. But it could be huge for them to get their first away win straight away and get the season off to the best of starts.
Ref Watch
Neil Hair
Hair only took charge of 15 games last season, so wasn't a particularly active ref. He was pretty card happy though, showing 66 yellows and 7 reds in those games. He could have his hands full tomorrow should the game become chippy and bad tempered.
2025-26 Record: N/A
Last Game: Northampton Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic, 3rd May 2025, 3 yellows, 1 red
Last Alex Game: Crewe Alex 5-1 Liverpool U21s, EFL Trophy, 27th August 2024, 2 yellows
Injuries/Absences
Salford City
The Ammies last pre-season friendly shows absences of Kevin Berkoe, Dan Chesters and Kelly N'Mai. Whilst I doubt the first 2 will be any big miss, N'Mai will be should he miss out. He was their 3rd highest scorer behind Stockton and the now departed Hakeeb Adelakun. So having 2 of their 3 top producers from last season be absent is a small boost for the Alex should it come to pass.
Crewe Alex
I won't mention Tabiner, Lankester or Tracey every week given we know none of them are back anytime soon. We'll leave it as said that all are out until we know for certain, in Tracey and Lankester's case, that they won't be.
Outside of them, we know Matus Holicek won't be fit and there is a question mark over Luca Moore, who missed last weeks game with Southport. Which as with last season leaves them light on attacking options.
Team

I think the starting XI pretty much picks itself at the moment, given the lack of depth. It'll be a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Tezgel in the number 10 spot tucked in behind March. Out wide it'll likely be Agius and O'Reilly. In midfield, it'll probably be Thomas and Sanders, which does have me concerned about how they will progress the ball.
The back 4 also picks itself, with it being Billington, Connolly, Demetriou and Hutchinson from right to left. And despite some wanting a debate between which keeper to start, it'll be Tom Booth in goal over Sam Waller.
If that is the team, then the bench will likely be: Waller, Croker, Finney, Lunt, Powell, Thibaut and Moult. That's a thin bench if we're being honest.
Score Prediction
As much as I'd like to say the Alex will start well, I think their attacking issues are going to hold them back until Lankester and Holicek return. Whilst I think that who they have available at the moment can score a few goals, they still look to lack that spark. So for that reason, I do think they'll will fall to an opening day defeat, as their issues at Moor Lane continue.
Salford City 2-1 Crewe Alex
Comments