But they, and the fans present, will surely reflect on the two points carelessly thrown away in a game the Bluebirds generally controlled and dominated.
Having superbly fought back from a penalty conceded inside 4 minutes, City turned the game around through John Robinson near half-time than lead through a glorious Alan Lee goal. There was only one winner yet, once again, Lennie and his players then conspired to throw it away once more with habits that neither seem capable of changing.
Lennie will come in for criticism from supporters especially with his “Sven-like” negative style tactics. Substitutions where paramount on a heat-sapping day with temperatures in the 80’s and apparently over 100 degrees in direct sunlight on the pitch but Lennie‘s masterstroke was to throw on an extra central defender for the closing stages at a time when City were not in the slightest bit of trouble., a move that inevitably hands some initiative to opponents and, a huge gamble, given the way this season defended pre-season and the end of last season too for that matter. Then the defenders did it again as the 5 of them collectively failed to cut out a cross, challenge a Dean Ashton far post knock back and then watch in agony as Crewe’s sub Higdon gleefully crashed home an equaliser that his side barely deserved. Only Lennie Lawrence and City could do it to us.
The day itself was excellent. Our coach set off from Lansdowne pub at 8am, 30 seconds later and the first Strongbow’s were being cracked - Happy New Season. The weather was glorious once early morning mist and fog cleared around Worcestershire and the roads were clear, Scary Movie 3 hit the right note with those on board and there was nothing to stop us - that was until the Ministry of Transport - apparently like the Ministry of Sound without the music intervened and pulled our coach in for half-hour‘s worth of checks just 30 minutes away from Crewe, no fun at any time but especially when the temperatures were as high as they were. A coach load of Yeovil fans behind us were also pulled off the motorway but then allowed to re-join.
We still made Crewe around midday. The police were highly visible but from all I saw and heard, very low key and certainly friendly in their approach. They allowed us to freely visit any hostelry we liked and the pubs were doing sterling business from the ales being sold and the amount of money my pals and myself wasted on their quiz machines too! The anticipation was building nicely, away games have magic and atmosphere that can never be matched at home and this being our first trip for three months just made it feel even better ... even if we were in Crewe!
Gresty Road is centrally located, a stone’s throw from the legendary “all change” station. The ground, like Ninian Park, is land-locked around housing and has one end backing onto the railway track, that’s roughly where comparisons end. Crewe’s stadium is very small, neat and functional but nothing more than that. It is all seater but both ends and one side of the ground are very small. In fact, one end must only have 250 or so seats in it and only 30 fans occupied it.
It is a good ground for away fans though as City get most of one side of the ground in a “cow shed” sized development. Our 1,600 allocations sold out within two days a fortnight ago and it was packed and raucous. Of course, the seats were of little relevance as everyone stood.
The line-up was highly predictable once you realised that Lennie was always going to opt for Page’s experience over Collins’ promise and Parry, according to the manager, is out of sorts currently. The rest of the team with Boland and Thorne currently injured, really picked itself with our meagre squad. It was Margetson wearing a new gold coloured shirt in goals behind his team-mates wearing the new blue home kit which is loved by some (but not even of all those who have bought it) and certainly not so loved - with its collar and closed neck - by many. The rest of the team were Weston-Page-Gabbidon-Vidmar, Langley-Bullock-Kavanagh-Robinson, Lee and Earnie. The bench were Campbell, Collins, Croft, Parry and Warner.
As for Crewe, Dario Gradi’s side were the usual mix of youth academy products and Gradi managing to use his reputation and location to muscle in and bring the best of the cast-offs, mainly from nearby Merseyside and Manchester teams. Striker Dean Ashton is the most talked about and rumours abound that he may be next to depart for the Premiership and pretty soon too. Goalkeeper Ben Williams was signed from Manchester United in the summer but he will be remembered by City fans for having his debut on-loan for Crewe against City last season, turning in a fantastic man of the match display in stormy conditions but cruelly scoring a freak winner for City. Welsh international, David Vaughan, was in midfield. Their crowd pleasing signing was Mark Rivers, returning to the club for free from Norwich having sold him there for £500,000 three years earlier.
City came out to a heroes ovation from the fantastic support and all looked up for it and they shook hands with each other and geed each other up but made the worst start possible and found themselves behind within 4 minutes to a penalty and fortunate to not have a man sent off.
Dean Ashton was making his personal battle against Robert Page look a mismatch as he beat him time after time. Indeed, it was not well into the second half until Page won any header or challenge against him, not an auspicious start at all. Ashton beat Page but Gabbidon blocked his shot in the opening minute.
With over two minutes play, disaster struck though as Ashton was first to react in a goalmouth scramble and have two attempts blocked on the line by Vidmar with his head and then what appeared to be his chest. There was huge confusion though, many thought it was Page who blocked it. The ref was waving to play on but then saw a linesman’s flag which went up immediately with, noticeably, no City defender complaining. There was a long debate before a penalty was awarded. City, and Vidmar, were lucky though. Vids was not even spoken to when the award of the penalty should have made it an obvious red card.
The penalty was formality. ASHTON coolly despatched it low and to Margetson’s right, the keeper went the exact opposite way. Neil Alexander would have been proud.
It heralded a poor opening half for City, the defence especially looking nervous for a long while and they had further let offs before half-time as Margetson flapped and missed a couple of crosses and nearly fluffed a free-kick whilst Lunt, Foster and Ashton all tested Margetson who recovered with a couple of fine stops.
City got their game going the longer it went on but were well below par. The longer the game progressed, the more possession City had but they really weren‘t doing anything that effective with it. Bullock was closest meeting a curling Kav free-kick that looped just over the bar. Earnie put an early effort narrowly wide, Kav tested the keeper from range whilst Vids, Page and Bullock all fired well over the bar from distance.
Perhaps the best chance was Lee Bullock looking set to place home a far post cross but didn‘t seem to call and John Robinson, in a lesser position, got in front and put his header straight at Williams. Corner-kicks were disappointing again, another old trait. Kav took them all, I‘ve given up trying to understand why, but whilst he cleared the first defender for a change, none were remotely threatening.
Most of us were starting to accept the half-time deficit, a minority few getting uptight with City’s display and one or two performers, when on 44 minutes, City equalised with a goal whose scrappiness was perhaps in keeping with the match to that point. .
A decent move with Kav, Bullock and Weston all linking up down the right, the galloping Weston turned the ball into Kav’s path and present him a clear 25 yard shooting opportunity. Kav miscued and screwed his effort across goal but defender Briggs failed to control a shot going wide anyway and diverted it straight to JOHN ROBINSON who could hardly believe his luck as he steered the ball home from inside the 6 yard box near the far post.
It was celebration time in the City end and huge relief too to be honest. The celebrations were suitably manic, Robbo’s name chanted, perfect strangers hugging each other, you know the score.
Half-time: CREWE 1 CITY 1
The second half belonged emphatically to City who over-powered Crewe, showed a clear gulf between the sides and enjoyed almost total dominance with the home side penned in their own half for long periods. Crewe came out strongly and Ashton was close again early on but City found an extra gear and you always felt the goal was coming.
Kav, Vidmar and Bullock were all close, Earnie was finding more space and support and Alan Lee was it his rampaging best. The goal came on the hour and was stunning.
Richard Langley broke forward, skipped a challenge and found ALAN LEE inside and central. There was nothing much on when Lee took the ball but he lost a defender with one touch and then unleashed a venomous, unstoppable missile from 20 yards that cleared William’s head and hit the top corner of his goal with the stunned keeper still diving to try and meet it. It was supreme brilliance.
The City support were now in a frenzy, the whole end charged forward and to the front to greet Lee and other players who ran to us in celebration. “Lee, Lee, Lee” went up every time he was on the ball tormenting home defenders as well as “when he gets the ball he scores a goal” and with 2 in 2 games, it’s probably the first time we could ever sing it with justification.
Lee was on top of his game, probably his best performance so far for City. The link play between Lee and Earnie never seems as compatible as Earnie and Thorne but it must be an absolute nightmare to defend against that pairing.
The game would surely have been finished and killed had referee Mike Thorpe awarded City one of the most obvious penalties ever seen but he made a terrible mistake. Earnie twisted, turned and raced away from last defender Foster and charged into the area looking set to net. Foster, in clear desperation, threw his arms around Earnie’s shoulders and pulled him back, Williams gratefully lashing the ball into touch. The ref awarded ’play on’ a decision that incensed fans and players, Vidmar booked for his protests, the only card of the afternoon.
Margetson made a smart stop shortly after Lee’s goal but had nothing to do otherwise. Crewe looked dead and a poor side, City made them look that way though. The game was closing and there was no danger whatsoever. Substitutions were inevitable as the sweltering conditions took their tool whilst Crewe tried the change and force the match.
Campbell replaced Earnie with 15 to go. Nothing wrong with that in principle but Campbell, as he often does, failed to put himself about or get involved. City fans were frustrated watching him trot about but that’s what he can be like some days. Some will argue most days.
The change that caused most concern though was Robbo coming off for the final 10 minutes with James Collins replacing him. Why throw on extra defender when we’re not under pressure or having any difficulties? In fact, if Lennie was hoping to strengthen the unit, it had the opposite effect as the defenders could now be seen talking and arguing amongst themselves as to the areas of the pitch, and players, each was to cover.
The game still looked comfortable - Croft now replacing Weston - when disaster struck in the final minute of normal time and in a style that really sickens and angers.
A simple cross could not be cut out, Ashton was somehow allowed to rise unchallenged at the far post and nod back across goal and despite the area being packed with blue shirts, it was Crewe sub MICHAEL HIGDON who was the only one to react as he tuned the ball home high into Margetson’s net from close range with defenders rooted to their spot.
Four minutes added time were played, City pushed forward and more a couple more Kav corners but nothing cam of them.
Just 90 minutes into the season and frustration and depression has hit City already. Our Coca Cola Championship season had already gone pop! (I’ll try to avoid these puns in future). A defence that just cannot concentrate whole game, a manager whose tactics do not always help, a central midfield who need help and improvement and a team who play decent football but cannot win enough game to launch the “sustained promotion and play off challenge” their manager talks about. On this evidence, City are set to do no better and no worse than last season. Plenty of time to change things around but the pressure will now surely be on the side to respond and perform in this week’s home encounters with in-form Coventry and newly-promoted Plymouth.
The journey home was good. When we got over discussing our defence, Lennie’s changes and the feeling that we needlessly threw away two points, we could party again. Peter Kay on dvd, a nice pub stop and, best of all, a ‘70’s karaoke coach singalong (never has “ain’t no mountain high enough” been sung so badly).
Report from FootyMad
Sub Mike Higdon saved a point for Crewe Alexandra with a late volley, which snatched a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City.
The 20-year-old connected with Dean Ashton's back-post header six minutes from time, to save the day for Dario Gradi's man.
Cardiff had overturned the Cheshire side's quickfire start, which saw them lead from as early as the fourth minute after Ashton had converted a penalty.
Veteran John Robinson and Alan Lee put the Welsh club in the ascendancy before Higdon's strike six minutes after he came on the pitch.
Crewe started strongly and when David Vaughn crossed from the left, Ashton's header was beaten away by keeper Martyn Margetson, but as Ashton followed up, Tony Vidmar stuck out a hand to deny him.
Ref Mick Thorpe missed the incident, but after consulting with his assistant he awarded the spot-kick.
Vidmar escaped punishment but Ashton made Cardiff pay by sending the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.
Crewe could have extended their lead just over half hour mark when Kenny Lunt went through on the right of the box, but Margetson did well to parry his shot.
Lee drove over when Cardiff should have pressed their advantage as they came back into the game, but Robinson put them back on level terms two minutes before the break when he prodded in from close range after Graham Kavanagh's first drive had ricocheted off several Crewe legs.
The South Walians took hold of the game in the second half and were rewarded when Lee took hold of Richard Langley's pass and picked out the top corner with a belting drive from just outside the box.
Margetson then saved Cardiff and denied Lunt again when he pawed the midfielder's 25-yarder around the post.
Lennie Lawrence's side appeared to be home and dry and Rob Earnshaw looked to have a good case for a penalty when he went down under Steve Foster's challenge after 65 minutes.
But Higdon arrived right on cue with his second senior goal to earn Crewe a share of the spoils.
External reports
Western Mail
Wales on Sunday