Centre halves help Crewe to victory (From Crewe Guardian)

Centre halves help Crewe to victory

4:50pm Thursday 18th February 2010

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Burton 1 Crewe Alexandra 2

CLAYTON Donaldson struck late to seal Crewe’s first win in four games.

The substitute striker produced the goods with six minutes left to snatch a vital three points at Burton on Friday night.

Shaun Miller had fired the Alex ahead on the half-hour mark only for Shaun Harrad to reply within a minute.

Although the in-form hosts might feel a little unlucky after hitting the post twice, Crewe’s defence proved reliable for once – providing the platform to hit on the counter.

“That’s the best the centre halves have done,” explained boss Dario Gradi.

“They showed a will to improve by working hard all week.

“You can’t say they’re not trying hard to improve, their defending was excellent.”

James Bailey made his first start since November, replacing injured Steve Schumacher while Joel Grant came in as Ashley Westwood moved to left-back.

Despite a poor opening spell, Crewe looked good value for their lead after chances for both Luke Murphy and Byron Moore.

And it was the latter earning the breakthrough on 27 minutes, finding Miller down the left who cut inside Aaron Webster and drilled the ball into the far corner.

Celebrations were all too brief when Harrad turned on John McGrath’s assist and beat Steve Phillips to level almost from the restart.

Crewe almost buckled but Danny O’Donnell was well placed to clear another Harrad effort off the line as the interval approached.

A constant threat, Harrad wasted two further chances as Burton were a dominant force early in the second-half Steve Phillips did well to tip over a 30-yarder from James Maghoma before the visitors finally regained some composure.

Moore should have done better, firing a loose ball straight at Krysiak.

Donaldson’s introduction for Miller ultimately had the desired effect when Moore burst past Corbett and drove across goal for the sub to finish off at the far post.

“It was a really professional performance,” added Gradi.

“I would have been happy with a point as we were under a lot of pressure but we didn’t really give them good chances.

“We didn’t make mistakes which was a real plus.

“We broke well too which is what we were trying to do and that is the advantage of having players like Donaldson and Moore.

“Shaun is frustrating and if I didn’t know him as a kid, I’d have given up on him by now.

“But I know he is a goal scorer.

“He was going to take over from Nicky Maynard and that is still the aim.”

Crewe: Phillips, Brayford, Westwood, Worley, O’Donnell, Murphy (Murphy 90), Walton, Bailey, Grant, Miller (Donaldson 75), Moore. Subs not used: Legzdins, Ada, Shelley, Clements, Leitch-Smith.

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