9:36am Thursday 28th August 2008
By Toby Robinson
IN-FORM Crewe claimed another Championship scalp as they bid to make history in the Carling Cup.
Goals from Anthony Elding and Byron Moore secured their place in the Third Round on Tuesday night, equalling their best-ever run in the competition.
And having dumped out Barnsley previously, this was a particularly sweet upset over Premiership hopefuls Bristol City with both £2.25m man Nicky Maynard and Dele Adebola in tow.
While both have been real Alex heroes over the years, a few new ones look to be emerging from Steve Holland’s revamped side.
It’s still early days but the last couple of performances suggest some good times are back at the Alexandra Stadium.
Joel Grant, Tom Pope, Elding and Moore ensured another lively emphasis on attack while James Bailey didn’t put a foot wrong after dropping back to cover at left-back.
Boosted by their win over Walsall, Crewe started positively against the visitors and an early Elding effort was blocked before Adebola served notice, bursting free down the left to force Steve Collis into a decent low stop.
Both Pope and Elding were giving the Championship side real problems with their workrate and the duo combined for a deserved opener on 24 minutes.
After a neat one-two sent him clear, this time Elding made no mistake with just the keeper to beat and slotted the ball away in style from 12 yards.
Some superb football followed as the scorer released Grant who turned about four City players before tumbling in the penalty area.
Bristol began to get a grip towards the break, queuing up to shoot in Alex’s one soft moment of the half before Pope went close to establishing a two-goal cushion.
A fortunate deflection off Louis Carey gave the big man his own one-on-one chance put just wide of the far post as Crewe started the second-half in fine fashion.
Grant was next to go close, latching onto Moore’s ball and turning his marker but blasting over the top with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Michael McIndoe’s long-range dipper hit the bar in City’s only real moment of note before Moore’s classy winner.
Grant made the most of a counter-attack, releasing Moore who beat a man on his way to placing the ball underneath Chris Weale on 77 minutes.
Things down Gresty Road are never that easy as the Championship side responded out of nothing just two minutes later.
Former target Brian Wilson picked up the ball from 30-yards out and unleashed a speculative drive straight into the top corner to leave hearts in mouths.
Danny O’Donnell’s last-ditch tackle denied Brooker as City threw everything forward but Crewe held out for a deserved victory.
Crewe: Collis, Woodards, Bailey, Baudet, O’Donnell, Moore, Rix (Schumacher 87), O Connor, Grant (Donaldson 89), Elding (Carrington 78), Pope.
Subs not used: Legzdins, Miller, McManus, Westwood.
Attendance - 3,227.
Guardian man-of-the-match: James Bailey - He made the transition to full-back near faultless.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.creweguardian.co.uk