Match report: Crewe Alexandra 1, Swindon Town 0 (PICTURES)

Gwyn Griffiths reports on Crewe Alexandra's 1-0 win against Swindon Town at Gresty Road

League One

Crewe Alexandra 1, Swindon Town 0

AS the old footballing adage goes, a win is a win is a win.

There have been precious few of those for the Crewe faithful to celebrate this season. Late summer has turned to autumn and now chilly winter since their side registered one in League One.

Who would have thought back on September 13 when Colchester were despatched by a 2-0 margin at the Alexandra Stadium it would be another 14 games before they recorded success.

Article continues below

That dreadful run put paid to Steve Holland's ambitions of following in the footsteps of Dario Gradi and has left the latter's permanent successor facing the prospect of basement football next season.

Or perhaps not if he can encourage the spirit and application Gradi got out of a makeshift side on Saturday.

Forget the dreadful first half in which the ball was frequently lumped, rather than caressed, as two teams demonstrated clearly why three-point hauls have been rare commodities for them all season.

It was ugly stuff indeed and even the most hardened supporters may have wondered if they'd have been better off down the Grand Junction finishing off their Christmas shopping than enduring the bitter cold down Gresty Road.

But Shaun Miller's opportunism in first-half stoppage time was the cue for a much-improved performance after the break.

Crewe at times produced the impetus to justify Gradi's attacking selection, which included the maverick talent of Joel Grant and even the defensive liabilities of the skilful Eugen Bopp, effectively discarded since his one previous start against Brighton on the opening day.

While Simon Cox was a threat for the struggling visitors, drama was kept to a premium by a revamped back four, in which George Abbey was making only his third appearance of the season.

We have come to expect the worst over the past two months, much along the principles of Murphy's Law.

But the only calamity was committed by Swindon's Billy Paynter, who reduced his side's hopes of saving a point by getting sent off for the second consecutive season at Crewe.

And the only sign of a Murphy was the appearance of first-year professional Luke (Murphy) for his senior debut in the closing stages.

"We didn't pass the ball well, but the crowd didn't get on to the players as they were chasing and putting people under pressure; they were having a go," pointed out caretaker-manager Gradi.

"In the end we got the break, we got the goal and we've just got to try and build on that."

Swindon, without a win since October 25 and also under caretaker management, were marginally the better of two poor sides in the first 45.

Paynter got across Danny O'Donnell to stab former Alex loanee Anthony McNamee's cross into the side-netting.

And the former Port Vale man should have done better with a free header from Jon Paul McGovern's corner, but aimed it straight at Stuart Tomlinson.

The Crewe keeper was also well-placed to beat out Cox's angled drive, while his opposite number, Phil Smith, had nothing to do until right at the end of the half.

The first glimpse of a passing move involved Michael O'Connor and Bopp and when the ball was relayed over to Grant, Smith could only parry the Jamaican youth international's fierce shot.

Miller, who had demonstrated his quick instincts in the FA Cup win at Carlisle earlier this month, looked just as sharp as he swooped to side-foot the loose ball home for a vital lead.

"Shaun reminds me very much of Nicky Maynard in that he can be poor in the build-up, but there is always a goal in him," pointed out Gradi. "I think we've got to give him time to develop and hopefully the guy who follows me will see the same.

"We need to find someone to play alongside him. Anthony (Elding) worked very hard without getting a chance on goal."

Miller was denied a second shortly after the restart when he lobbed the ball over the last defender, Hasney Aljofree, but his volley was blocked by the onrushing Smith.

Crewe were playing with a rare fluency and confidence at that stage and Grant was enjoying himself down the left. One swirling cross was almost sliced into his own net by young left-back Callum Kennedy.

The former Aldershot winger has been plagued by inconsistency since his £120,000 move, but Gradi is quick to praise his dedication to learning.

"That is what you're going to get from Aldershot – you're not going to get the next England outside left.

"Before we signed him I just saw one clip of Joel on DVD where he got the ball in the box and skipped past his man. When I saw that I thought we had something to work on. He's a lovely lad and if you are coaching players for enjoyment like me then he's a good person to work with."

Paynter's red card was just the sort of fortune to have evaded Crewe this season. Just before his 67th-minute dismissal he'd forced Tomlinson to punch out his near-post drive and looked a menace.

The former Valiant once struck a wonder goal for Hull at Gresty Road, but his most recent memories will all be unpleasant ones.

He over-reacted after tangling with O'Connor, aiming his head at the Irishman, and there could only be one outcome.

But his partner, Cox, a powerful front man despite his diminutive stature, still came close twice to grabbing a late leveller the visitors would not have deserved.

The former Reading reserve headed Kennedy's cross inches wide and then crept in on the end of a free-kick in similar fashion.

But Grant, boosted by his announcement as sponsors' man of the match, looked like he'd set up Clayton Donaldson in stoppage time, only for the substitute to miscue from six yards out. Fortunately, it didn't matter.

"The win has been a long time coming so I am pleased for the players," said relieved Alex assistant-manager Neil Baker.

"Shaun has given the front line a bit of life. He's a Crewe fan and it means a lot to him. In fact it means a lot to a lot of us. When it's your life it dominates your weekend."