The away game was the final match of the regulation season (report here) Robert Earnshaw scored his record breaking 31st league goal of the season and the point earned determined that we would play against Bristol City in the play off semi finals. The rest, as they say, is history.
Both clubs were worthy of promotion, Crewe under Dario Gradi always provide a good level of football and it's a testament to Gradi and his staff that they continue to perform year on year with a very limited budget.
Gradi actually will not be at Ninian Park tomorrow. The Crewe boss has undergone routine heart surgery. The 62 year old was operated on successfully last weekend and is recovering after the op. He is expected to be out for around 6 weeks. We wish him all the best.
Neil Baker, Gradi's assistant is in temporary charge.
Crewe are curently 10th in Division 1 thanks to 4 wins and a draw from their 8 games so far. They recently beat Nottingham Forest at Gresty Rd. Away from home Crewe won their last game at Rotheham 2 - 0. They've lost at Wimbledon and Burnley and earned a point at Millwall.
The clubs have a very short history. In total they've only ever played against each other 16 times. 7 league campaigns and an FA Cup third round tie inc replay.
At NP City have only won twice against Crewe with 5 games being drawn. Both teams went out of the Carling Cup this week, City against West Ham, Crewe away at Leicester.
Crewe are without Rob Hulse, the City linked striker is happily scoring goals for WBA. One crucial member of their squad is David Vaughan. The young Welsh wing back was named yesterday in Mark Hughes' full Wales squad for the game v Serbia on Oct 11th.
More exact team news will follow on Friday afternoon, maybe by then we'll know who City's new loan player will be.
Cardiff City v Crewe Alexandra
Ninian Park.
Saturday 27th September, 3:00pm.