2 weeks Ago
CITY kept up their merciless home record to grab top spot in the League Two promotion chase. T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at a rammed University of Bradford Stadium and provides the match stats and his player ratings. MAN OF THE MATCH Alex Pattison was back to his best as the driving force that scares defences with his explosive bursts from midfield.
Honourable mentions as well to Calum Kavanagh for not giving Crewe a moment’s peace and the safe hands of Sam Walker in goal. MOMENT OF THE MATCH Sam Walker’s penalty save just before half-time was huge because a Crewe equaliser then would have deflated the whole atmosphere. MOAN OF THE MATCH City have got to start taking more of their chances.
The contest should have been put to bed long before Kavanagh’s calmly-finished second goal in the closing minutes. TACTICS Graham Alexander made three changes after City’s defeat at Port Vale – and restored the back three that had kept a clean sheet against Accrington in the previous game. Neill Byrne and Romoney Crichlow returned in place of Paul Huntington and Ciaran Kelly – neither of whom were included in the 18.
The other change saw Bobby Pointon come in for Tyreik Wright on the left of the front three. Callum Johnson was added to the bench. REFEREE: Adam Herczeg (Newcastle) BOOKINGS: Halliday, Baldwin, Adaramola, Kavanagh (City); Cooney, Conway, Marschall (Crewe).
ATTENDANCE: 22,214 (with 843 from Crewe) SHOTS ON TARGET: City 7 Crewe 2 SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 8 Crewe 4 CORNERS: City 4 Crewe 5 FOULS: City 15 Crewe 14 POSSESSION %: City 48 Crewe 52 PLAYER RATINGS CITY: S Walker 8, Byrne 7 (Johnson 66min), Baldwin 7, Crichlow 6 (Shepherd 46min, 7), Halliday 7, Smallwood 7, Pattison 8 (J Walker 78min), Adaramola 7, Lapslie 6 (Khela 46min, 7), Pointon 7, Kavanagh 8. Subs (not used): Mellon, Wright, Hilton. CREWE: Marschall 7, O’Riordan 6, Demetriou 7, Williams 6, Cooney 5 (Powell 46min, 6), Lankester 6 (Hemmings 69min), Lowery 7, Conway, Knight-Lebel 5 (Billington 46min, 6), Long 6, Bogle 6.
Subs (not used): Sanders, Agius, Thibaut, Booth..
