Cod Almighty | Match Stats

Saturday 27 October 2018

Division 4

Crewe Alexandra 2 Whelan (70), Miller (77)

Grimsby Town 0

Attendance: 3725 (469 away fans)

We don't usually record the home team's man of the match when Town are away, but let's take a crumb of comfort that the Crewe winers and diners felt it necessary to award their goalie the fizzy Rolls-Royce.  

Meanwhile at the other end, a proper goalkeeping display by Town's number 1. His positioning and agility saved Town's blushes from being redder than Crewe's shirts. Furthermore, it was McKeown who demonstrated leadership when the team conceded, visibly trying to inject passion and belief into deflated teammates.

Always measured, honest and positive, Jolley accepted it wasn't the best day, but was reluctant to criticise the players. "I'm very reluctant to criticise my defenders, who have conceded two goals in five games now, so defensively we have done well... Of course today is a setback but we were always going to have a setback at some stage. What is important that we show the same character of coming back as quickly as we can next week."

More on this

Dave Artell tried to outdo Jolley in the fashion stakes with a nice blue jumper over a white shirt, topped off with a light grey jacket. He couldn't cope with the cold though during the game and covered it all up with a coach's coat, leaving our Michael as the fashion winner. Artell's post-match interview was largely unintelligible because of the wind whistling around the interviewer's microphone but the words we, did and well were just about decipherable.

Town will regret not taking their first-half chances, especially when they had the energy to cause the home side problems early on with the pressing tactic. Too hesitant to shoot and then when they did, the efforts were too predicable and tame. There was also a series of ineffective corners. At the other end, switching off and being disorganised led to both goals. More goals would have been conceded if not for the efforts of McKeown.

Crewe had started the day a point above Town and it showed: they were like Town without the late lapses in concentration. It made for a better game of football than you might expect from two teams in the bottom third of the fourth division.

All the players subbed off, and then, after the final whistle, the whole team, were applauded respectfully for their efforts. This was a day when everyone who could see it saw that there was no disgrace in defeat.

Mr P Wright (Merseyside)

Mr Wright was fairly invisible, in a good way. No fault can be attached to him for Town leaving without any of the points. He kept the game flowing and even let a firm tackle on the flashy Ainley go. He gets a 7 for just doing his job, albeit quite well.

Not very bloody and uncertainly unbowed.