County have the opportunity to move back into the top ten on Tuesday night, when we travel to Cheshire rivals Crewe Alexandra in our rearranged League Two fixture.
The game was originally due to take place on Saturday 21st January, but was postponed on the day due to a frozen pitch at the Mornflake Stadium. It will be our first game visit to Crewe since the game that confirmed our relegation from the Football League back in 2011.
Twelve years on and County are very much a different proposition, despite Saturday’s disappointing defeat away at AFC Wimbledon. That loss was just our third defeat in the last 13 league games, but saw us drop below the Dons into 12th in League Two – four points off a play-off place.
There are just two other games being played elsewhere in League Two on Tuesday night, as Carlisle host Barrow and Walsall visit Salford, meaning a win for County would definitely see us move into the top nine for the first time this season, potentially finishing the day as high as eighth depending on Barrow’s result at Carlisle.
Crewe were not in action at the weekend, due to scheduled opponents Stevenage playing in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round, meaning the Railwaymen have gone 16 days without a game coming into this encounter. They currently sit eight points behind County in 18th, with two games in hand on Dave Challinor’s side. A win for them on Tuesday night would see them climb above Colchester and Grimsby into 16th.
There are still a small amount of returned tickets in the away end available online now. Tickets will remain on sale until 12pm on the day of the game – click here to get yours today.
Since we last met:
Our win in the reverse fixture at Edgeley Park on Boxing Day proved to be one of the most comprehensive victories of the season, with Crewe failing to muster a single shot on goal over the entire 90 minutes.
Goals from Paddy Madden and Will Collar sealed the points for the Hatters that day, opening up a six point gap over the visitors as we climbed into 11th place.
It went from bad to worse for Lee Bell’s side just a few days later, as they ended 2022 with a resounding 3-0 defeat at home to Carlisle United – a third straight loss in the league, compounded by a red card for key man Luke Offord following an off-the-ball incident with now-County man Jack Stretton.
Since then, however, the Cheshire side have shown some green shoots of recovery. Their winless run was brought to an end on New Year’s Day with a 1-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers at the Mornflake Stadium – although such is their luck at the minute that the man who scored their winner that day, Charlie Colkett, has since been ruled out through injury.
They followed that up with a 0-0 draw against play-off chasing AFC Wimbledon before that equally impressive point at Mansfield last time out, meaning they come into this encounter on a three-game unbeaten run.
There have been hampered recently with the loss of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, recalled from his loan spell by parent club Arsenal in order to be sent out to Austrian club SK Sturm Graz for the remainder of the season.
The 21-year-old was highly rated during his time at the Mornflake Stadium, making 26 appearances for the Club and keeping ten clean sheets – including two penalty saves. Former Bristol City ‘keeper Dave Richards started their draw with Mansfield last Saturday, his first league appearance of the season, and the Club have also since moved to bring in 18-year-old James Beadle on loan from Brighton.
Beadle is one of four new additions for Crewe since the window opened, alongside Southampton loanee Ryan Finnigan, winger David Amoo and forward Elliott Nevitt. All are available for Tuesday’s game.
One to watch:
Lee Bell’s side are undoubtedly continuing to struggle with the loss of striker Courtney Baker-Richardson. The 27-year-old remains their top scorer in League Two with seven goals, despite not featuring since October due to a serious muscle injury.
With the forward still expected to be out for some time, the Railwaymen have reacted by bringing in Tranmere Rovers striker Elliott Nevitt on an 18-month deal. The 26-year-old had scored six times for Rovers this season – three of them coming against Crewe in League Two and the Papa John’s Trophy, in the space of five days back in October.
Match Stats:
- This will be the 153rd competitive meeting between County and Crewe Alexandra, with County winning 66 previous encounters compared to Crewe’s 52. Our last away win against the Railwaymen came in 2009, a 4-1 win in the Papa John’s Trophy thanks to a Carl Baker hat-trick.
- County have never gone three games without scoring under manager Dave Challinor, last doing so in September 2021 in games against Grimsby Town, Boreham Wood and Yeovil Town.
- Ryan Johnson will make his 50th appearance for the Club if selected. County have won 32 of the 49 games he has played in since joining the Club last year.
