Crewe’s winless run comes to an end
CREWE recorded their first win of the season to move off the bottom of League One as Shrewsbury Town continued their woeful home form.
Adam King’s strike after just two minutes ended up being enough as Alexandra took all three points to the delight of boss Steve Davis.
He said: “It is a weight off our shoulders because it has been a tough time for us lately.
“We didn’t play that well today but we had to battle, and that is how football goes, we have played well and lost, but today we didn’t play that well and won.
“I have told the lads to not think that is it and we have cracked it, we need to keep working ahead of the next one now.”
After two minutes the visitors were ahead, as King capitalised on some suspect defending from Jermaine Grandison to slot home past Jayson Leutwiler.
Crewe didn’t look like the league’s basement boys as Brad Inman lashed wide before Larnell Cole’s snapshot was saved and Jordan Clark saw his effort shave off the visitors’ crossbar.
Micky Mellon’s side were cranking up the pressure as first Tyrone Barnett missed a guiltedged chance with his head after 20 minutes before fluffing his lines when going one on one with Garrett.
Full backs Matt Tootle and Mat Sadler volleyed wide but in first half stop- page time Inman broke forward squaring for Ryan Colclough who was free in the box, but he got his feet tangled and the chance to double the lead went astray.
Cole should have levelled it moments into the second half as Clark played him in but the chance was scuppered by captain Harry Davis.
Lauri Dalla Valle was denied a chance to double the lead at the other end before Garrett produced a top save down to his right to deny a goal bound Cole effort.
Crewe could have buried it with ten minutes to go but former West Brom striker Marcus Haber headed over from yards out to set up a nervy finish.
Shrewsbury huffed and puffed late on but to no avail as Alex hung onto victory.
Shrews boss Mellon couldn’t believe his side lost the game, saying: “That has got to be the most frustrating afternoon I have had at this club.
“To give a goal away so early and easy wasn’t in the plan, and I just can’t believe that Crewe have won that game.
“If anyone says any differently they are watching a different game, but we didn’t have that killer instinct to put the ball in the back of the net.
“I can’t fault the effort of the lads, but sometimes in football teams get lucky, and sometimes it just happens.”