Match report: Crewe Alexandra 0, Millwall 1

League One

Crewe Alexandra 0

Millwall 1 (Price 90)

by Gwyn Griffiths

JASON Price sank Crewe with a stoppage-time winner just as it looked like Gudjon Thordarson’s men were holding on for a vital point.

The Millwall substitute pounced inside the box to earn his side a deserved win.

But despite being under the cosh for long spells, Crewe had managed to restrict the Londoners to a handful of genuine chances.

After a desperate first 45, David Martin hit the bar and Price headed a gilt-edged offering wide, while Gylfi Sigurdsson went close at the end for Crewe.

Thordarson drafted Byron Moore in place of Joel Grant in his front three, but that was the only change from the side which started the midweek draw at MK Dons.

The Alex boss had demanded defensive improvements, but Neil Harris almost capitalised on some indecision from John Ruddy in the seventh minute. When Marc Laird pumped the ball over the Crewe box, the striker nudged ahead of the keeper only to see his flick trickle wide of the far post.

A swirling wind made life difficult for both sides, but after a scrappy opening spell, Crewe responded with Tom Pope turning to force David Forde to scramble across his goal to get his hands on a low drive.

Ruddy did well to get down to take the sting out of a 25-yard effort from Martin.

Millwall were by far the stronger side in a poor opening half with Harris the chief threat. The veteran frontman volleyed Gary Alexander’s flick-on a yard wide.

Moore’s return lasted 33 minutes before he was stretchered off after he came off the worse in a challenge inside the visiting box as he chased a long ball.

Harris should have put the Londoners in front on 37 when he was offered a free header from James Henry’s corner, but Crewe breathed a sigh of relief when he glanced wide.

But it was the last threat from the striker as the stretcher was out again in stoppage time. He was pole-axed in an aerial challenge in his own box as he went up with colleague Tony Craig and Julien Baudet to defend a Crewe free-kick.

The Lions’ prospects looked to have been hit by the departure of their leading scorer, who was replaced by on-loan Doncaster striker  Price.

Henry swerved an effort wide of Ruddy’s near post at the re-start.

Sigurdsson made room for a cracking shot, which just missed the bottom corner.

Crewe were lucky to escape in the 58th minute when Henry’s corner came out to Martin on the left and the winger’s fierce volley came back off the underside of the bar.

A long throw from Clayton Donaldson saw John Brayford swipe a deflected effort over.

Shaun Miller forced Forde to block his volley with his legs as the Alex substitute reacted quickly on the right of the box.

Referee Jon Moss turned away Alex appeals when Miller went down in the box with Frampton in close attendance.

At the other end Alexander flashed a volley across the face of goal as the game warmed up in the closing stages with both sides looking for the decisive goal.

Ashley Westood was offered his Alex debut with 10 minutes left as the tension mounted with Price heading Henry’s corner wide from close range.

Man of the match Sigurdsson forced Forde to block another blockbuster in the last minute.

But Price nipped in to stab home the winner from close range in injury time after Ruddy save his first effort.

Crewe: Ruddy, Brayford, Broomes, Woodards, Baudet, Sheehan, Sigurdsson, Carrington (Westwood, 81), Moore (Miller, 33), Pope, Donaldson. Subs: Collis, O’Donnell, Grant.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Frampton, Whitbread, Craig, Henry (, Fuseini, 90), Laird Bolder, Martin, Alexander, Harris (Price, 45). Subs: Pidgeley, Barron, Grimes.

Referee: Jon Moss.

Attendance: 4,686.