LIFT-OFF Luke nets in Alex triumph
COVID-HIT Crewe returned to rude health in front of watching EFL chairman Rick Parry.
Parry made the short trip from his Chester home to witness an actionpacked contest which was a credit to this level of football.
And at least he saw a game.
Last Saturday Crewe’s clash at Oxford United was called off less than an hour before kick-off when defender Omar Beckles tested positive for coronavirus.
Beckles was back in the side for yesterday’s match alongside another Oxford absentee, Ryan Wintle.
Since then two other players, plus the club doctor, have been forced to self isolate while Wigan were without two players due to the pandemic.
It was some response from Crewe considering the week they’ve had.
Boss Dave Artell said: “It’s been the toughest week of my managerial career.
“There are no courses to prepare you for what we have gone through. I thought we deserved what we got from this game. If we can be more ruthless in the box then someone is going to get a real tonking.”
Wigan would have been on the end of one if hadn’t have been for goalkeeper Jamie Jones.
Latics boss John Sheridan said: “It should probably have been more than 3-0.
“I can’t make any excuses. There is nothing I can take from this game, we let ourselves down.”
The overworked Jones had made a couple of fine saves before Crewe took the lead, with Callum Ainley the creator.
He looks to be the next talent off the renowned Crewe conveyer belt, along with blond forward Charlie Kirk.
And it was Ainley’s ball into the box that allowed Luke Offord to head home his first senior goal at the far post. Kirk came up with an assist before the break when his cross from the left found Harry Pickering to finish crisply and put his side firmly in control.
Wigan were up against it – but at least they are still in business.
A new Spanish-based owner is ready to move in and having been stripped of virtually a full team, the club are in need of a rapid cash injection.
Crewe, though, are oozing confidence under Artell.
So it was no surprise when they made it 3-0 in the 59th minute.
James palmed away shots from Ainley and Daniel Powell but couldn’t prevent Michael Mandron from slotting home.
Richards 6; Ng 7, Daniels 6 (Beckles (12th) 7), Offord 7, Pickering 7; Murphy 7, Wintle 7, Ainley 7 (Lowery
79th); Powell 7, Mandron 7 (Porter 79th), Kirk 8
Jones 8; James 6, Johnson 6, Naismith 6, Pearce 6; Merrie 6 (Gardner (57th) 6), Perry 6 (Crankshaw
(52nd) 6), Solomon-Otabor 6; L Evans 6, Massey 6; Keane 6 (Jolley 79th)