[ 21 Mar 23 ] GILLS v Crewe Alex Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Crewe just edge the wins 23 to the Gills' 22 and only 9 of the meetings have been drawn. The Gills have won 5 and lost 1 of the last 7 ties between the sides.
- Crewe last won at Priestfield back in March 2014. Since then, the Gills have won the 4 home ties against Crewe scoring 10 goals and conceding 1.
- Both Crewe and the Gills have won 9 league games this season. Crewe have won 10 league and cup games this season compared to the Gills' 13 and the visitors have won 3 of their last 19 after 3 consecutive wins. The Gills have 8 wins in 19 games.
- Crewe have won 1 of their last 16 away league games and are winless in their last 8. They have lost their last 2 on the road (both 0-1) after drawing 5 consecutive away league matches.
- Crewe have taken the joint fewest number of leads away from home (4), the same number as the Gills albeit having played 2 games fewer on their travels. They have been ahead for 30 minutes more from those leads however meaning their average away lead of 56.8 minutes is the highest in League 2.
- Crewe have taken 1 shot on target from their last 2 league games. Their league total of 96 is the lowest total in League 2, 1 fewer than the Gills have managed.
- Crewe have won just 4 corners in their last 4 matches. Those 4 games have seen them give away 39 corners, contributing to their league high total of 228 (6.3 per game on average). Crewe's 385 corners for and against is the highest amount of any League 2 sides' league games.

(19.46) Kick Off [ 4 - 1 - 3 - 2 ]

(19.51) Williams sprint forward on the right and cross a ball for Jefferies in the box with 1 defender. Unfortunately, it drops neatly over his head but skips away off the turf and out for a throw as he chased it down.

(20.00) Crewe get forward and a header across goal has Morris stretching. The ball isn't cleared and they stab the ball goalward with many players in the way and the ball goes wide.

(20.14) A Crewe whipped cross through the middle of the Gills' penalty area is so fast it evades everyone. Any touch would likely have been a goal. The follow up takes a deflection wide.

(20.25) A Williams cross finds Dieng a few yards from goal but it is headed away from him at the critical moment and out for a corner.

(20.29) Crewe drive forward, get onto the player's favoured left foot and fires a shot from inside the D which goes just wide of Morris right post.

(20.32) Half time 0-0 [46:02]

(20.48) The second half kicks off.

(20.54) McKenzie picks up a pass from the edge of the centre circle, drives forward into the box and fires a shot just over bar.

(20.59) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Crewe Alexandra: Nichols

21.03 Crewe cross left-footed and the ball lands on the top of the crossbar before McKenzie heads out for a corner.

(21.04) GOAL! Gillingham 1-1 Crewe Alexandra: Ainley

(21.13) GOAL! Gillingham 2-1 Crewe Alexandra: O'Brien

(21.21) Just seconds after coming on, Coleman fires a fierce shot just high of the right hand corner of the Crewe frame of goal.

(21.24) O'Brien gets a good header at goal but it's a little close to the 'keeper and anywhere else would have really tested him. A minute later, O'Brien fires in a shot which is a little weak and more easily dealt with than it should have.

(21.31) Hawkins has the ball in the net but it is ruled out for a push.

(21.32) Red Card! Neil Harris is sent off.

(21.33) Alexander and Morris throw their bodies on the line to block a couple of efforts to prevent Crewe drawing level for a second time.

(21.38) FULL TIME 2-1 [95:51]

Attendance: 5,796 (72)
Position: 19th
Referee: James Oldham
Match highlights:
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64132581