All the facts and figures ahead of Crewe Alexandra's League One match against Bristol Rovers at Gresty Road

PREVIOUS MEETING

1. ​

September 27, 2008

ROVERS 0

CREWE 0

GOALKEEPERS Steve Phillips and Steve Collis took the plaudits after this Memorial Ground stalemate last September.

Collis preserved a point for Crewe with an acrobatic save to keep out a late header from Jeff Hughes.

Steve Holland's side did well to recover from the setback of losing Calvin Zola as early as the fourth minute after the giant striker crumpled under a hefty challenge from Steve Elliott.

Replacement Anthony Elding went close with a header and a close-range shot he should have put away after Shaun Miller pulled the ball back across the six-yard box, but Phillips was equal to the task.

Rovers: Phillips, Ryan Green (Pipe, 37), Coles, Elliott (Hinton, 7), Lescott, Lines, Campbell, Disley, Hughes, Duffy (Kuffour,71), Lambert. Subs: Mike Green, Hunt.

Crewe: Collis, Woodards, Jones, O'Donnell, Baudet, Moore, O'Connor, Carrington (Schumacher, 84), Bailey, Zola (Elding,4), Pope (Miller, 58). Subs: Brayford, Grant.

Attendance: 5,870

FORM GUIDE

Crewe: LWDLWD

Rovers: DLWLLD

WHO WE'D LIKE TO SIGN

Rickie Lambert is League One's joint leading scorer with 18 goals and poses a real threat to Crewe's mini-revival.

WHO TO BOO

FOR those Alex fans who can recall September's goalless draw at the Memorial Ground, then Steve Elliott's name might get a boo or two after his late challenge took out Calvin Zola early in that game. Elliott, though, is a doubt tonight through illness, but his likely replacement, Byron Anthony, is also a feisty customer whose challenges may not please the home faithful either.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Sussex official David Phillips has never taken charge of Crewe.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Crewe: Tomlinson, Shelley, Brayford, Lawrence, O'Donnell, Daniel, Carrington, Bailey, Murphy, Donaldson, Miller.

Rovers: Phillips, Pipe, Lescott, Hinton, Anthony, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Hughes, Lambert, Kuffour.

PREDICTION

Crewe need to win home games like this one if they are to get out of trouble and, buoyed by the feel-good factor following Gudjon Thordarson's arrival, they should offer enough to earn their fifth win of the campaign against a side who have won just once away all season. So 2-1 to the Alex, with goals from Shaun Miller and Clayton Donaldson.