CREWE ALEXANDRA 1-2 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy, Adams (Marshall 76), Webster, Seaborne, Clarke, Willis, Thomas (Eccleston 64), Prutton, Moussa (Baker 50), Robinson, Wilson. Subs: Burge, Baker, Delfounseo,, Haynes, Christie.
Crewe: Garratt, Tootle, Ellis, Dugdale, Inman, (Walters 90), Guthrie, Evans, Aneke, Ikapeazu, Grant, Pogba (Moore 73. Subs: Phillips, Mellor, Osman, Ray, Oliver, Walters.
HT CAFC 0-1 CCFC FT CAFC 1-2 CCFC ATT 5,042
Goals Callum Wilson 26 & 81, Andy Webster Own goal 60
Referee A.Davies
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Super Callum Wilson scored a brace that will go a long way to keeping Coventry City in League One for another season as the Sky Blues won 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra.
City travelled up the M6 on a glorious day, not having won their last away game, Immediately before a 'home' game to Bradford City or Park Avenue, since 1947, a spell of fifteen games.
City manager Steven Pressley had brought in David Prutton from Sheffield Wednesday on loan for the rest of the season and he started in a City team which was clearly set up to not to lose with again five at the back, Prutton in front of the defence, three in midfield and one up front.
Wilson flashed a shot wide with just one hundred seconds gone and three minutes later, City won their first corner which was scrambled away.
Crewe had Aneke fire wide before Prutton was booked for what looked a nothing sort of tackle.
From then on in, it was clear that that referee Mr Davies was determined to be the star of the show rather than the players.
In the 12th minute, Robinson won the first of two corners but they were dealt with and Crewe won a free kick for a foul by Blair Adams who was booked.
Crewe's first corner came in the 19th minute and was quickly followed by another and then a City free kick for a foul on Prutton who needed treatment.
The City support of 1,142, which was a decent turn out for this stage at this season started to sing the names of former players with Gary Breen and Rushall Olympic's Dele Adebola and in the 26th minute, the name of Callum Wilson was being chanted when Franck Moussa, who could be leaving for a Championship club at the end of the season, worked some space to get in a shot which hit Garratt's left hand post. The ball came loose and there was Callum Wilson to pounce and give City in their sky blue kit, the lead.
Three more corners for Crewe followed but a resilient City defence were able to deal with them in what was another outing for the phantom whistle blower, who has been making himself heard at Sixfields and this afternoon, was in the away end, trying to hide from the stewards and the City supporters willing to lynch him.
Back to the action on the pitch and Mr Davies not just riling the City support, the Crewe fans took exception and two minutes before half time, the whole of the main stand got up when they thought that Ikpeazu had been fouled as he turned and drilled wide.
This meant there was ironic cheers when he awarded a free kick which Joe Murphy had to push over.
Crewe had the first effort of the second half with Ikpeazu firing wide and five minutes into the second half, Steven Pressley made his first change with Carl Baker coming on for Franck Moussa, a decision which brought a few boos from the City support who were not happy that Moussa who had been doing a decent job was being replaced.
Murphy saved from Ikpeazu again as the floodlights on a lovely sunny afternoon before the clocks go forward came and Aneke fired wide in the 56th minute, Blair Adams blocked before Robinson joined the list of players booked.
City's defence started to panic on the hour mark. A slice brought a corner and a scramble saw the ball go into the net off Andy Webster and an own goal given.
Tackles started to fly in and Thomas was booked and then replaced in the 64th minute by Nathan Eccleston.
The City fans continued to fume at the referee and a team which were second to the ball but defending resolutely whilst in the home end to our right, a group of kids in the home end demanded to know where the Ricoh had gone.
In the 67th minute, Mark Tootle, who along with Jon Guthrie was for me, Crewe’s best players, doing far more work than Anthony Grant, who somehow won the sponsors man of the match vote, was allowed space to get in a volley which Murphy dived to his right to push away.
City were being kept in their own half and having to resort to hoofing the ball clear as the pressure from Crewe continued. That pressure led to Jordan Clarke being booked in the 71st minute and conceding a free kick that Murphy had to palm away for a corner.
There was fourteen minutes remaining so Steven Pressley sent on Mark Marshall for Blair Adams. Murphy made a double save from Ikpeazu who then barged his way past Baker and Webster before his shot was blocked.
In the 81st minute, the actions of a referee, who had cautioned seven City players and had the City players and fans in his ear, clearly displaying his inexperience of handling games at Football League levels was briefly forgotten when Callum Wilson burst through from a Baker ball and beat Garratt before celebrating with the City support.
Tootle forced Murphy to push over for a corner and Seaborne battled on despite having a leg injury meaning that those on the pitch wearing sky blue had to double their efforts as six minutes of stoppage time was added on.
To a man, City fought until the game was won and a very welcome hard fought win it was. As well as a welcome three points, the goals mean that City, who take on Bradford City on Tuesday night, have scored more league goals at this time of the season, than any time in the last fifty years.