September last year when we last played Crewe, and it was a game all too typical of the Dons in the early weeks if not months of the season. We dominated the game in terms of possession, for the record 69% but in the final third we did little or nothing with the ball managing juts 2 shots the whole game, and just one of those on target when Joe Mason went one on one with Will Jaaskelainen but hit the ball straight at him. I don’t know why but I have long held the thought that Crewe were one of the better teams we played in the first half of the season. They were entirely comfortable with our style of play, well organised, and played with a good work rate and a high press, and when they got their opportunities they were clinical, and basically the game was dead and buried after 20 minutes and at 2-0 you simply couldn’t see how we were going to score…..hopefully it will be different this time round.
Crewe were possibly unlucky to come away with nothing versus league leaders Hull City on Friday when Malik Wilks scored in injury time to take the points.
CREWE – THE LEAGUE STORY SO FAR – Crewe sit in 15th spot with a record of PLAYED 37, WON 14, DRAWN 9, LOST 13, GF 45 & GA 48 with 51 POINTS.
AWAY RECORD
Northampton 0 Crewe 1
Lincoln 3 Crewe 0
Blackpool 1 Crewe 1
Swindon 2 Crewe 1
Peterborough 2 Crewe 0
Shrewsbury 0 Crewe 1
Gillingham 4 Crewe 1
Plymouth 1 Crewe 1
Rochdale 3 Crewe 3
AFCW 1 Crewe 2
Burton 1 Crewe 1
Accrington 1 Crewe 0
Portsmouth 4 Crewe 1
Oxford 0 Crewe 2
Ipswich 1 Crewe 0
Doncaster 1 Crewe 2
Sunderland 1 Crewe 0
Hull City 1 Crewe 0
A record of PLAYED 18, WON 5, DRAWN 4, LOST 9, GF 17 & GA 28.
CURRENT FORM – DLWLWL
THE MANAGER
David John Artell aged 40 and born in Rotherham.
As a centre back, he started his playing days at Rotherham and became somewhat of a journey man playing for 14 clubs during his pro career totalling some 540 games and scoring 44 goals, he also represented Gibraltar on 7 occasions.
In 2014 Artell joined Crewe to become their Academy Head while he was still playing for Bala Town.
In January 2017 Artell then took the step up to become 1st Team Manager replacing the sacked Steve Davis. His managerial stats look like this, GAMES 215, WON 85, DRAWN 41, LOST 89 and that gives him a just above standard 39% Win Ratio, although I do find it slightly strange under his leadership that Crewe have drawn so few games.
FORMER PLAYERS
Bruce Grobbelaar, David Platt, Dean Greygoose (love his vodka), Neil Lennon, Robbie Savage, Dean Ashton, Nicky Maynard, Ryan Lowe, Ryan Colclough, Danny Woodards, Mark Carrington, Jordan Bowery, Daniel Powell to name just a few.
FORMER MANAGERS
Crewe have had over 30 managers in their history with Dario Gradi probably being about the best one known, for the older fan you might remember Harry Gregg, Harry Catterick or Jimmy Melia.
CREW MASCOT
Gresty the Lion, who seems to have a blemish free character.
FAMOUS FANS
Nothing much has come to light on this one, although it is rumoured Michael Crawford is an Alex fan, also Curly Watts and Elsie Tanner from Corrie, the latter taking the kick-off in a Testimonial match some years back.
TOP SCORERS – Owen Dale, Oliver Finney, and Mikael Mandron with 8 goals each.
CURRENT MATCH ODDS
MK Dons 6/5 Draw 12/5 Crewe 5/2
LAST TIME ROUND
Saturday 26th Sept 2020 – Crewe 2 MK Dons 0
Team – Nicholls, O’Hora, Lewington, Cargill, Brittain, Sorenson (Fraser), Houghton, Gladwin, Sorinola (Keogh), Mason (Nombe), Morris.
Unused Subs – Walker, Poole, Harvie, Kasumu.
Goals – Mandron 13’, Finney 20’.
Referee – Seb Stockbridge (4 Yellows)
Attendance – Behind Closed Doors
HEAD 2 HEAD – League Only
2020/21 – Crewe 2 MK Dons 0
2018/19 – MK Dons 0 Crewe 1
2018/19 – Crewe 0 MK Dons 0
2014/15 – Crewe 0 MK Dons 5 (Cole 2, Baker, Bowditch, Powell)
2014/15 – MK Dons 6 Crewe 1 (Alli 3, Grigg, Afobe, Reeves)
2013/14 – Crewe 2 MK Dons 0
2013/14 – MK Dons 1 Crewe 0 (Bamford)
2012/13 – Crewe 2 MK Dons 1 (Bamford)
2012/13 – MK Dons 1 Crewe 0 (McDonald)
2008/09 – MK Dons 2 Crewe 2 (Wilbraham, Puncheon)
2008/09 – Crewe 2 MK Dons 2 (S Baldock, Chadwick)
