Blackburn v's Crewe ***MATCH PREDICTIONS***

[crewebacca]

I'm going for a 2-1 win to the Alex. Goals from Lowe and Kiwomya (or maybe Duffy will repeat his star turn against Cardiff).

[Furberstreet]

Blackburn 2 Crewe 1 aet

[gazan]

2-0 to Blackburn

[Alexandra The Great]

Blackburn 0 Alex 2
5,246 (448 Railwaymen)

[PAULCAFC]

If we had any sort of a decent defence we would be winning these games.

[Furberstreet]

Listening to the game, it seemed that Saunders had missed a chance for Crewe to go 3-1 up. However, given our past record and the recent Hartlepool game, we do find it difficult to hold onto a lead. I suspect we simply drop back and hoof the ball out to the opposition to allow them to come back at us again. We do not seem to be good at keeping possession, but the same can be said for the England team.

The players were giving everything and the team spirit seems good. Not a bad result against a Championship side, but a pity that we could not hold on. Cheltenham will be a test for us on Saturday and I hope that those players selected for both games do not run out of steam.

[ShropshireAlex]

Effectively we're still unbeaten in League terms, in that we were drawing at 90 minutes . Was no-one from this group there?

[bigroof]

They played a lot of good-looking football; close to having scored more goals; difficult to stop crosses coming in from their right winger; Blackburn were much stronger and smarter at corners, of which there were many towards the end of the 90 minutes and in the early part of extra time.
Bingham's opener wasn't just a great strike - it ended a fine move begun around the halfway line by a bit of skill from Kiwomya.
Hollands was steady, playing very much within a certain part of the pitch. Jones played well when he replaced him. Not sure how their player found himself in the box near half time to reduce the arrears; they'd looked reasonably comfortable until then. Cooper was excellent throughout, causing them a lot of problems, and hit the post when the score was 2-1 to the good. Saunders had his best game yet - joining in the build-up several times. instead of relying on service to spring the offside trap. He was on the end of a fine move and cross by Bakayogo (again, at 2-1 up), striking it crisply within the 6 yard box, but foiled by an excellent reaction save from the keeper.
Garratt made a similar stop - at our end - but seemed to be at fault at the other end for their equaliser. Cooper was struggling, and a decision had to be made: try Kirk perhaps, and keep the pattern of play, or go three at the back with Ray (or Nugent, but he chose Ray). Without it being Ray's fault, I felt, they were soon 3-2 down, and being caused all sorts of problems at the corners.
It seemed like defeat, so late in the game, but they rallied for some more attacks, and Dagnall's equaliser was a fine strike from the edge of the box.
The first period of extra time began with a series of corners for the home team, forcing that terrific save from Ben, and a clearance off the line from Turton, but they were beaten by the next corner. After that, despite forcing some late corners of their own, they were unable to fashion a clear chance for an equaliser.
There is a clear pattern to the team's play so far this season, and there is competition for places in most areas of the pitch. Having a properly fit Hollands (and Smith when he returns) offers the possibility of playing 4-3-3 as well, and that might be a better option to help protect a lead, than going three at the back, which does tend to invite the opposition on to them.

[gazan]

I thought he might go 4-3-3 (or 4-3-1-2) and use Ainley but he keeps choosing Ray to shore up the defence (and then we concede- coincidence maybe?)
However, it sounded brilliant again. The difference from last season is amazing and yet the personnel are not very different. It's great that we're attacking so much and that the goalscoring is being spread around.

[steelydon]

Funny game. With three mins to half time we were 2 -0 up with half the team playing poorly. (Saunders, Dagnall, Cooper, Chelsea lad, esp Hollands) and Blackburn were awful and their fans were getting onto them. If only we could have gone in then. But no, they scored and from then on never really looked like losing even though Dagnall improved enormously as the game went on.
I felt changes were needed at half time and by delaying bringing on Lowe and Jones we surrendered all territory to them. (Saunders glaring miss notwithstanding) What a shame to force extra time then lose. The worst of all worlds!