Crewe Alexandra
npower League Two
Saturday 4th September 2010
The Lamex Stadium, Stevenage
Kick-off: 3pm
Weather Forecast: Clear, 20°c
Referee: J J Linington (Isle of Wight)
Stevenage will be hoping to secure their second successive home win in the league on Saturday when they entertain Crewe Alexandra.
The Railwaymen finished in a disappointing 18th position in League Two last year, well clear of relegation but nowhere near challenging for the playoffs. The club remains one of the country's best at producing young, talented footballers and selling them on for substantial profit but on the pitch much better is expected of Alex this year and former non-league players such as Clayton Donaldson and the excellent Joel Grant will be key players for them.
Last time we met…
The two teams have never previously met in a competitive fixture.
Team News
Chris Beardsley and Charlie Griffin are doubts for Stevenage with both strikers suffering injuries in the past week. Darius Charles also missed the midweek defeat by Brentford so Scott Laird will continue at left-back whilst there are likely to be recalls for Tim Sills and Robbie Sinclair.
Right-back Steve Tootle (hamstring) is an absentee for Crewe so the more physical Mat Mitchel-King will continue to deputise for the defender. Striker Calvin Zola could be recalled to the first team with Joel Grant dropping to the bench. First choice keeper Steve Phillips has only just resumed training after a shoulder injury so on-loan Rhys Taylor will continue in goal, whilst the versatile Dan Shelley has recovered from a knock and should be named as a substitute.
The Crewe Alexandra Scout Report
Recent Form
Crewe currently sit in 13th in League Two with four points after one win, one draw and a defeat in their four games to date. The season kicked off with a 1-0 defeat at Hereford before an impressive 1-0 win over Derby County in the Carling Cup three days later. An end-to-end but ultimately disappointing 3-2 defeat at Cheltenham was then followed by a 7-0 thrashing of lowly Barnet. The Railwaymen were drawn against Ipswich in the second round of the Carling Cup but went down 1-0 to an extra-time winner from the Tractor Boys. Crewe then earned a point at Lincoln City last weekend with Shaun Miller's goal later being cancelled out by former Boro winger Albert Jarrett.
Possible line-up for Saturday (4-3-3 formation)
Rhys Taylor; Mat Michel-King, David Artell, Patrick Ada, Danny Blanchett; Luke Murphy, Ashley Westwood, Lee Bell; Calvin Zola, Shaun Miller, Clayton Donaldson
Subs from: Joel Grant, Jordan Connerton, Adam Dugdale, Ajay Leitch-Smith, Byron Moore, Bartek Fogler (GK), Antoni Sarcevic, Dan Shelley, Nick Powell
Familiar Faces…
If the name Danny Blanchett rings a few bells but you can't quite remember why then worry not. The 22-year old left back spent a brief period at Stevenage in 2009 but failed to make any appearances. The defender was one of many non-league players snapped up by Peterborough United in the last few years but he has since played at Hereford and AFC Wimbledon on loan before signing for Crewe this year.
Elsewhere in the Alex ranks, Clayton Donaldson and Joel Grant will be remembered for being arguably the most exciting non-league prospects in the Blue Square Premier during their times at York and Aldershot respectively. Donaldson's form in England earned him a move to Scottish Premier League side Hibernian, for whom he scored five goals in 18 games before returning south in 2008 for an undisclosed free. Grant made the more mundane journey straight from Aldershot after terrorising many defences during his time in Gary Waddock's championship winning outfit.
Patrick Ada and Mat Mitchel-King meanwhile were integral parts of the successful Histon team which performed so well when they were first promoted into non-league's top flight a few seasons ago. Ada is a commanding centre-back who recently scored his first goal for the club in a 3-2 defeat at Cheltenham, whilst the tall Mitchel-King was a regular in the England 'C' midfield and offers Crewe some versatility as he can also play in defence.
Man to watch out for...
The 09/10 season was a successful one for striker Calvin Zola, who finished as Alex's top scorer with 18 goals. The 6ft 3in forward, a £200,000 purchase from Tranmere in 2008, also won the club's Goal of the Season for a fabulous strike from a tight angle at Bradford last October
PREVIEW BY DAVE TOYN
