WARNE FURY AT COIN THROWER
MILLERS boss Paul Warne condemned a missile-throwing incident that marred the win that sent them back top.
Michael Smith scored twice in a routine win against the lowly Railwaymen, who had Scott Robertson sent off in a second half subject to a lengthy delay, after an assistant referee was hit by a coin which appeared to have been thrown from the away fans’ section at Gresty Road.
There was a second delay in the game as the official was replaced by the fourth official after complaining of “dizziness”.
“It’s embarrassing and it is completely unacceptable. If it was one of our fans and it has been seen by CCTV then the culprit should be punished,” said Warne.
“I apologised to the four officials and our captain went over as well as to see that he was all right too.
“It’s a concern for me as a human being. If that was one of my fans that is found
to have done that then they should be punished.”
Warne’s side started strongly and were soon ahead when Rarmani Edmonds-Green picked out Smith’s run in behind with a lofted cross, which the striker headed home with aplomb.
Shane Ferguson drove a long-range effort inches over and Smith flicked on a corner on to the underside of the bar as Warne’s side piled on the early pressure.
But Crewe emerged from their shell to pose a threat, only to be let down by their finishing. Chris Long lashed over from the D after wriggling clear and then wasted
some good approach work on the left by going for goal from a difficult angle, with Millers keeper Josh Vickers making a routine save.
After a lengthy hold-up in play after the official appeared to be hit by a missile, the home side’s hopes were dashed in the space of 60 seconds. With 73 minutes gone, substitute Robertson – booked earlier in the second half – tripped Chiedozie Ogbene in full flight to receive his marching orders.
From the resulting free kick taken by Dan Barlaser, Smith’s close-range touch just edged the ball over the line for the Millers’ second.
The frontman went close to a hat-trick with a late header which drifted past a post.
Crewe boss Dave Artell was busy in the transfer window finalising four deals at the end of the week, although only former Fortuna Sittard striker Bassala Sambou, who came off the bench late on, was signed in time to feature.
Artell said: “We gave the league leaders two goals and our game management wasn’t good enough.
“I thought Scott Robertson was unfortunate for the first yellow card and I didn’t see the second one [foul]. But the sending off turned the game in their favour. We made some poor decisions that handed them both their goals.”