(Day Tripper Article by Exiled Essex Boy, Sunday April 6 2008)
One of the joys of going to these northern outposts is finding a pub of such unarguable glory that it makes any sort of result worthwhile. The fact we won after a first half where Southend played football unseen for many a season, I'm so pleased there was a packed stand of Shrimpers to see it, made for one of the better afternoons to follow this madness called Southend United FC.
Getting to Euston 40 minutes before the 9.38 to Wolverhampton could be forgiven, what couldn't was Virgin's brilliant decision to inform people of the relevant platform at 9.32 but then still decide to close the doors on time. I saw some heavy breathing amongst the Blue shirts running to make sure they got on the train before it left! Once in Freddie country we only had a few minutes wait before the train to Crewe turned up, though on the same platform so everyone could relax this time.
Thanks to the ever excellent pub guides on the Yeovil indy fan site Ciderspace, (who does their research, they must be in hospital by now?), I had two pubs in mind to give a try. The first, the Borough Arms, looked closed as I approached it, paint peeling off the front of the building, but once inside it was an oasis of drinking pleasure. A choice of 8 ales on tap, a guest real cider, stout that wasn't Guiness, the odd Belgian beer, and a pint of fourX if you had to. However, by 14.40 a group of us were still there as it was such a real ale Disneyland and had to be reminded the kick off was approaching fast. Al's youngest daughter must feel like Alice at the tea party when we old boys get going. I only bought a half at the end lads!
Once again a game we dominated, especially in a dream first half where we played some sublime stuff, we nearly threw away by some poor defending. Little Darryl though was in his best penalty saving form, the first save was especially good, and justice was done with the Blues grabbing three points. Crewe were not awful, they tried to play the ball to feet, forwards finding space for the midfield to play them in. They were just bullied out of it by a brilliant performance by the Southend midfield central two while the Blue passing was all we have come to expect from a side managed by T&B but far more consistent throughout the 90 minutes and reaching new heights at some stages of the first 45. The finishing of Barnard and the hard work of Walker was not bad as well.
The sad attempts at booing Morgan, (what the hell did he do wrong while he was with us?), we could have done without and it just seemed to spur him on, at times in the second half he was taking the mick out of Francis. He wasn't the answer, he was sent back, he certainly was no worse than Black. Success will always attract a younger, less imaginative element and I suppose we will have to live with it.
The whistle went, Port Vale had done us proud, Tranmere had also lost, the Borient had not suprisingly let Leeds back in, but with only five games left it's all getting very close. The two home games this week could do it. Come on you Blues!!!!
FLAHAVEN - 9; When this guy is confident, and he's certainly full of it at the moment, he's very, very good at saving the blushes of the four guys in front of him. Some good saves along with full control of his six yard box and, well, he saved two penalties in one game, the first brilliantly, good height or not.
Francis - 7; The usual game from our Simon. Can look Premiership going forward, sheer Blue Square with a lot of his defending, (though I felt he was unlucky with the second penalty incident), but with the Blues in control for most of the game it's his attacking and passing qualities that he uses most so we are getting away with it.
Clarke - 7; I could print the match reviews of 90% of this blokes and his mate next to him and it would give you a good account of their respective games. Great effort as ever, some masterful interventions, a small Crewe forward line meant he won more in the air than usual. A horrible lunge that gave the first penalty away, he should give Flavs a big hug for the save that gave the first half scoreline a more realistic look. (He probably did!)
Barrett - 7; See above but can't be blamed for the penalty! However, as skipper, was he responsible for the usual bad marking at another set piece that gave Maynard such an easy header bringing Crewe back into a game that should have been as good as over. Two points dropped here would have been unforgivable.
Mulgrew - 7; One of his best games for the club, was as dominant offensively as usual but good to see the radar in slightly more working order while defending. Along with his much needed height I'm not missing Hammell as much as I thought.
Black - 6; More involved than off late but still goes AWOL far too often while giving the ball away at inopportune moments. The skills certainly there, we just don't see it consistently enough over the full 90 minutes.
McCormack - 9; A terrific all-round performance by the former Preston man. Incredible work rate, as strong in the tackle as we are used too but not a yellow card in site, always aware of what was going on around him and what was needed. His chip over the top for Walkers goal would have made Tiger Woods purr with delight. Man of the match in everything but my harsh decision to give it to that bloke who saved a couple of shots from 12 yards. Daft!
Bailey - 8; Played as well as he usually does but rarely for once out played by his partner in crime. Shows great upper body strength in the tackle usually followed by a forward pass that opens up several options. Would be worried if there wasn't any interest from clubs from higher divisions for the Ginger Gem, up to the Blues to go on and take 23 other Championship clubs out of that equation for next season. (Oh well!)
Gower - 7; Carries on his good patch, popping up over the pitch, short and sharp passing bringing colleagues into play, always prepared to have a shot at goal.
Walker - 8; Worked very hard while his shooting ability was tested with the second goal, Macca's superb pass maybe made it too easy, it was helped in after some poor goalkeeping. Overall a great game, his partnership with Barnard is improving every time they play together. The skill he showed in the build up to the third followed by his very own brilliant pass was a joy to witness.
Barnard - 8; Oh Lord, Lee Barnard indeed. How good it is to have a forward who does the simple things like putting the ball in the net! Finished a fine move when toe-poking home the first while made sure he didn't waste James's great play with a brilliant finish for the third. Lee, I feel humble in your presence.
SUBS: My only criticism of the great Tilly. Will he please stop all these mass changes near the end? There is a loss of concentration from new and remaining players that could have cost us v Walsall and might do for real in the future. As it is Moussa, Grant and MacDonald all came on for Black, Gower and Walker between the 84th and 85th minute!
Finally, a report from the Crewe Rivals site for your reading pleasure. Roll on Tuesday. (That was the Brighton game I believe.)
Crewe were thankful to a late Millwall equaliser against fellow relegation strugglers Gillingham to keep themselves clear of the relegation zone, for the time being at least, after a miserable 3-1 capitulation to Southend. It was a display, particularly in the opening half-hour, of such utterly unreserved ineptitude that it was hard not to smirk, or at least scratch your head in sheer disbelief.
Whilst a strange-looking strikeforce played with the motivation of a ceramic tortoise with M.E., our defence continued a recent trend of clown-like performances with a veritable menagerie of mis-kicks, mis-placed passes and half-hearted tackles. It was a defeat created exclusively by the starting XI and it should be those men who bear the brunt of the blame and criticism for a pitiful showing that made the John Major Conservative government look practically competent. Steve Holland himself took time after the game to apologise for his input into the team; but it was an apology so unreserved and unconditional that I thought he was going to begin apologising for British colonial rule in Ireland and the Empire's contribution to the slave trade.
There were clues to the eventual disappointing direction of the day quite early on - most noticeably after 2 minutes when we conceded a goal. Julian Baudet's clearance had the same sort of trajectory as a Soviet satellite launch (i.e. vertical), George Abbey made a weak attempt at a header from the corresponding aerial battle and former Alex loanee Lee Barnard was sent through on goal. The script was almost perfectly written and Barnard was able to easily slot past the motionless Ben Williams, presumably blinded by Barnard's peroxide hair, so bright it was emitting light of its own accord. Events continued in roughly the same sort of vein for most of the opening half. Crewe struggled to string more than two, or perhaps, three passes together and were deservedly punished on 20 minutes.
This time the defensive fault was with Chris McCready who had his clearance charged down, but Williams once again failed to leave the comfort of his six-yard box and James Walker sliced home, with a Williams hand even helping the ball goalwards. Such a display of goalkeeping acumen prompted a visiting friend (non Crewe-fan, goalie) to describe him as 'the worst keeper I've ever seen'.
The problems were vast, in all honesty, as we struggled to keep possession, failed to find a system to accommodate the forwards we had on the pitch, made individual error after error and displayed a sort of indifference to the entire relegation struggle that belied belief. Whilst the preening Dean Morgan was the worst candidate, McCready summed up the general malaise in the first half. 2-0 down, he lets a ball run out of play for a goal-kick; then turns away and jogs off leaving the ball for a ball-boy to fetch! Where's the urgency? Where's the desire to get back into the game? Where's a single sign that these players actually want to stay up?
Despite the depressing standard of football on display on the pitch, the Alex were handed a lifeline before half-time. Nicky Maynard was felled in the box and the usually reliable Gary Roberts stepped forward, only to see his penalty well saved by the keeper as he dived to his right.
If one missed penalty wasn't bad enough, things became slightly surreal after the break when we were awarded, and then missed, a second. Joe Anyinsah, who worked his heart out all game, was felled as he powerfully burst through, but Lunt's attempt was a weak one and prompted the astonished Gresty Road End into a brief, and weak, attempt at 'You're not fit to wear the shirt'.
But we did get a goal back soon enough; Lunt's free kick being headed in by Maynard to spark a period of roughly five minutes in which it looked like Crewe might get back into it.
Yet it wasn't meant to be. Barnard scored his second and his side's third with a neat finish after the central defenders had parted with more gusto than the Red Sea. Only Millwall's equaliser provided any sort of consolation, but, judging by our performance, it is probably only delaying the inevitable.