Crewe Alex: Pre-match stats for Crewe's League Two clash with Swindon

PREVIOUS MEETING

League Two – March 17, 2012

CREWE ALEXANDRA 2

(Powell 29, Westwood 65)

SWINDON TOWN 0

CREWE were in tip-top shape to unsettle title-bound Swindon with one of their biggest wins of last season.

And goals from Nick Powell and Ashley Westwood did no harm to their eventual moves to Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively.

The Robins had arrived at Gresty Road on the back of a run of 11 wins from their past 12 games, but they looked a distinctly average outfit against the Alex's bright, high-tempo football.

And they certainly impressed Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio, who was fulsome in his praise of an Alex side playing football with the same style and swagger that the Italian once brought to the game himself.

Crewe Alexandra: Phillips, Tootle, Davis, Artel, Dugdale, Shelley (Brown, 73), Westwood, Murphy, Leitch-Smith (Clayton, 82), Moore, Powell (Miller, 89).

Swindon: Foderingham, Devera, Kennedy (Murray, 66), Flint, McCormack, Ferry, Risser (Cox, 79), Ritchie, Rooney (Holmes, 46), Benson, Tehoue.

Attendance: 4,641.

FORM GUIDE

Crewe Alex: LWWLD

Swindon: WLWDD

WHO WE'D LIKE TO SIGN

Adam Rooney: The former Stoke City reserve striker has developed into a decent target man with an eye for goal.

WHO TO BOO

Paolo Di Canio: The volatile Italian may have said some nice things about Crewe the last time he was at Gresty Road, but he'll no doubt be spitting venom from the touchline should events go against his team again this evening.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire): He's sainted in these parts after reffing Crewe's Wembley play-off win over Cheltenham five months ago, but Alex fans will be hoping he's a good omen for a successful outcome tonight too.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Crewe Alexandra: Martin, Mellor, Ellis, Davis, Tootle, Moore, Murphy, Osman, Daniels, Pogba, Aneke.

Swindon Town: Foderingham, McEveley, Ward, N Thompson, Miller, Ferry, Roberts, Ritchie, McCormack, Collins, Rooney.

PREDICTION

Mathias Pogba nets either side of half-time for the Alex before a late Adam Rooney strike gives Swindon false hope.