REPORT: WALSALL 0 CREWE ALEXANDRA 1 REPORT: WALSALL 0 CREWE ALEXANDRA 1

REPORT: WALSALL 0 CREWE ALEXANDRA 1

Earlier today, Walsall Football Club played host to bottom of the table side Crewe Alexandra in the latest Sky Bet League One fixture of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.

Earlier today, Walsall Football Club played host to bottom of the table side Crewe Alexandra in the latest Sky Bet League One fixture of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Scott Brotherton was in attendance, and shares his match report below.

Former Saddler Febian Brandy started for the Alex and, after scoring in their win over Coventry last week, he looked lively early on.

Crewe started well and had two chances in the first 10 minutes when, with Paul Downing out due to a sickness bug, the patched-up defence's marking went awry.

First an excellent raking ball found Brad Inman and he tried to volley a chip over Richard O'Donnell, adding too much power and sending it over.

Then Matt Tootle's floated free kick landed on the boot of defender Adam Dugdale who put over from an awkward height. Again, a player was totally unmarked at the far post.

There was some probing Walsall passing but no chances were created by them in the opening quarter of an hour.

Reece Flanagan dallied and was robbed on edge of his own box, but Anthony Grant only fired a tame shot at the goalkeeper to the relief of the flame-haired youngster.

At the other end Romaine Sawyers drove wide with what was more of a hopeful attempt when some space opened up for him.

A misjudged header from and Andy Taylor then allowed for a handy pullback to Brandy. He hit straight at O'Donnell who made a bit of a meal of the spinning shot, eventually pouncing on the ball gratefully.

On-loan Swansea man Alan Tate darted to the near post for George Cooper's corner and put a solid header over as the match neared half an hour played

Advancing to left-winger with Taylor back from illness, Mal Benning took a wild swipe at one but keeper Ben Garratt didn't have anything to worry about.

Despite a lot of chances for the Railwaymen, Walsall had a lot of the ball, but their first genuine opportunity came in rather fortuitous fashion.

From a corner passed to him on the edge of the area Andy Taylor had a strike on goal. It looked as though Garratt was going to clutch it until the ball cannoned off the head of Jordan Cook, flying narrowly wide if the opposite post.

A tenacious Adam Chambers then won the ball back in the final third but Benning couldn't benefit from his captain's great work, scuffing the ball wide from 20 yards.

The players came out for the second half as though they had been plugged into the mains during the break. There were few clear cut chances, but it was end-to-end stuff and much better from both sides.

Dean Smith's men were in control though and had huge spells of possession. Cook had a decent chance when he sent a header straight down Garratt's throat from a looping Forde cross.

The introduction of Mathieu Manset in the 61st minute brought a bit more strength to the forward line, and the Frenchman smashed across goal from a wide angle.

Cook may have been pushed out wide to accommodate Manset, but his sumptuous chip from 18-yards or so nearly provided a glorious opener. It caught the keeper off guard and he needed to backpedal to tip it over the crossbar.

Manset had another shot blocked by a desperate sliding defender and it looked like Walsall were the more likely scorers.

But after being quiet for the majority of the half Crewe grabbed the decisive goal with just six minutes to go, and one that left a really sour taste in the mouth.

There was a goalmouth scramble when the Walsall defence couldn't hack clear from a corner. It fell to Dugdale and the centre-half couldn't miss from just a few yards out.

Steve Davis side did well to restrict the game after that and it rather petered out, moving the Alex to within two points of the Saddlers who slip into the relegation zone.

F/T: Walsall 0 Crewe Alexandra 1


 RESULT  WALSALL   0   CREWE ALEXANDRA   1  
GOAL: Dugdale 84'.
AT: Banks's Stadium, Walsall.
ATTENDANCE: 4,127 (438 Crewe)
REFEREE: Mr. Darren Handley, Lancashire.

  WALSALL   O'Donnell; Purkiss, J.Chambers, Butler, Taylor; Flanagan (Clifford 66'), A.Chambers; Forde (Baxendale 81'), Sawyers, Benning (Manset 61'); Cook

 SUBS NOT USED  MacGillivray; O'Connor; Morris; Grimes

 CREWE ALEXANDRA  Garratt; Ray, Tate, Dugdale, Tootle, Grant, Inman (Atkinson 90'), Turton    , Leigh, Brandy (Haber 65'), Cooper    , (Waters 82')

 SUBS NOT USED  Shearer; Guthrie, Oliver, Ness
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