TONY’S FUMING AT POOR DEFENCE
TONY Mowbray believes Coventry City were the masters of their own downfall as they failed to secure League One safety against a Crewe side who boosted their own survival chances in the process.
Ryan Colclough was the first-half star for the visitors as he made one goal and scored another to see them two up at the break, before Marcus Haber ensured his side would have fate in their own hands next week.
Nick Proschwitz grabbed a late consolation for the Sky Blues, but it was not enough to prevent the visitors from moving level with them – two points clear of the bottom four.
It was a situation that left Mowbray notably frustrated just days after his side held newlycrowned champions Bristol City to a goalless draw.
“The result last week should have given us the belief to go out and give a solid performance to hopefully win the match, yet we managed to shoot ourselves in the foot,” Mowbray said.
“It was some poor defending from our end, and they weren’t wonderfully crafted goals which makes it worse.
“At home you have to be a little bit braver, and some of the players find it a little bit more difficult at home because of the expectation.
“We’ve got a big week and we’ve got to go to Crawley and get a result – it is that simple.”
Jim O’Brien's close-range volley was brilliantly saved by Paul Rachubka as the hosts started well, Proschwitz also going close early on.
But their profligacy was punished when Lauri Dalla Valle bundled the ball across the line from close range to give Crewe a 23rd-minute lead, Colclough producing some brilliant footwork to go past his man and find the Alexandra striker in the area.
Crewe then doubled their lead ten minutes before half-time when a whipped free-kick caused problems in the Sky Blues penalty area and Colclough converted from George Ray’s pass.
Substitute James Maddison’s curling effort from the edge of the penalty area was the closest the hosts came at the start of the second half.
And on 73 minutes Haber sealed victory for the hosts, as he outjumped Aaron Martin to nod Oliver Turton’s delightfully chipped cross home and ensure the visitors stretched their unbeaten record at Coventry to five games.
Proschwitz popped up with his first goal for the Sky Blues with five minutes left, heading in O’Brien’s cross – but that turned out to be little consolation.
It was a display that delighted Steve Davis in the Crewe dugout, although he admits it means nothing unless they can repeat the achievement again.
“It was a magnificent spectacle and we’re delighted for our fans and the staff in the fact that they are going to go home happy,” he said. “But it’s not over yet – we’ve still got to get a result next week.
“Ryan is a matchwinner and he can make something out of nothing – in the time he was on the pitch he played fantastically and took his goal really well.”