Matchday Guide|Colchester (A)

27 April 2024

Crewe Alexandra will bid to secure a place in the League Two Play-Offs when they take on Colchester United today (Saturday, 3pm).

Lee Bell’s men will travel to the Colchester Community Stadium knowing a point will be enough to make sure of a top-seven place. But they will be under no illusions as to the task ahead, with the home side also wanting a point to confirm their safety from relegation.

The Opposition

Colchester sit 22^nd and three points above the relegation places - but they are not mathmatically sure of safety. A win for Sutton United, plus a modest swing in goal difference, could send them down if they are beaten in the final game of the regular season.

The U’s have picked up two wins out of their last five games, but went down 4-1 to Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.

The Gaffer

Danny Cowley was appointed as Colchester boss around the turn of the year.

The former Lincoln City, Huddersfield and Portsmouth Manager has great experience and results have improved under his stewardship.

Fighting Talk

Ryan Dicker (Alex Assistant): “Our main focus is on getting back to performing the way we did to get into this position. We want to get into the Play-Offs on our own merit so we can have some momentum."

Danny Cowley: “We have a clear game plan and we spent some time with the group. For us, it's always been about the process and the performance”

Head-to-Head

Colchester United have won 30 of the 62 meetings between the teams. The Alex have emerged victorious 23 times, and the remaining nine clashes were draws.

In the reverse fixture at Mornflake Stadium, Crewe edged it 2-1 thanks to a Christopher Long double.

Match Officials

Lewis Smith is the man in charge and he will be assisted by Joseph Stokes and Daniel Robinson. The fourth official will be Jacob Miles.

Smith has taken charge of 48 games this season, including Premier League and Championship games, and has handed out 179 yellow cards and six reds.

Ticket Details

	Matchday 27/04/24
Adults	£23.50
Concessions*	£18.25
Under-18	£14.50
Carer	FOC

How To Get There

Click here for information on how to get to Colchester United by road or rail.

Can’t Make The Game?

This game will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event from 2.45pm.

Supporters based outside of the UK can watch the game live on iFollow, with the action complemented by commentary from the BBC Radio Stoke team of Graham McGarry and Peter Morse.

Click here to secure your iFollow match pass today and make sure you don’t miss a minute of the contest.

Alternatively, you can listen to LIVE commentary on iFollow - CLICK HERE to purchase an Audio Match Pass for just £2.50!

Elsewhere in League Two

Accrington v Tranmere; Wimbledon v Walsall; Barrow v Mansfield; Bradford v Newport; Crawley v Grimsby; Forest Green v Notts County; Gillingham v Doncaster; MK Dons v Sutton; Salford v Harrogate; Swindon v Morecambe and Wrexham v Stockport County.

Match Reports

Match Report|Colchester 1 Crewe 1

27 April 2024

Railwaymen reach the Play-Offs
Nevitt’s injury time effort seals it
Doncaster Rovers await

Crewe Alexandra sealed a place in the League Two Play-Offs thanks to a 1-1 draw at Colchester United.

Elliott Nevitt’s 92^nd goal made sure of a sixth-place finish for The Railwaymen, as it cancelled out a Noah Chilvers opener.

The striker’s 18^th of the campaign made it four consecutive away games without defeat, and sent the 512 Alex fans who had made the long trip into raptures.

It means Crewe have finished will face Doncaster Rovers in the Play-Off Semi-Finals, with details to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The overriding emotion for players and supporters was relief, as a long campaign of hard work came to fruition.

But it will soon be time to go back to work.

Lee Bell made two changes to the side that lost to Wrexham, with Christopher Long and Shilow Tracey restored to a three-pronged attack.

Josh Austerfield and Aaron Rowe dropped to the bench alongside fit-again Courtney Baker-Richardson, who was involved for the first time since February.

Colchester, who named a tall and physical side led by striker John Akinde, asked the first questions in the opening stages and keeper Max Stryjek had to hold shots from Jayden Fevrier and Arthur Read.

On 22 minutes a Crewe attack was only half cleared and Elliott Nevitt headed on target, but keeper Sam Hornby was equal to it.

The home side hit the front on 35 minutes when Chilvers got down the Colchester left, cut inside and drilled home from just outside the box.

Not long after, Long had a shot blocked and Matus Holicek failed to connect properly with the rebound, as the Alex looked to hit back before the break.

Bell made a double change at the break with Long and Holicek, who were both limping, being replaced by Rowe and Austerfield.

Rio Adebisi fired over from an angle and Crewe had clear penalty appeals waved away when Mickey Demetriou’s shirt was clearly pulled in the area.

Stryjek made an athletic save to deny Chilvers a second while, at the other end, Nevitt blasted one inches wide from range.

Fevrier prodded wide from close distance as the home side looked to make sure, while Demetriou saw a header held by Hornby on 85 minutes.

It went right to the wire but Crewe kept pushing. And in the 92^nd minute sub Charlie Kirk linked superbly with Joel Tabiner to get down the left and squared for Nevitt to slide home from close range.

Colchester (3-4-3): Hornby; Mingi, Iandolo, Hall, Kelleher; Fevrier, McGeehan, Chilvers, Read; Akinde (Harbottle, 67), Hopper.

Subs not used: Goodman, Jay, Wilkinson, Richardson, Cooper, Ihionvien.

Booked: Kelleher.

Crewe (4-3-3): Stryjek; Adebisi, Williams, Demetriou, Cooney (Kirk, 81); Billington, Tabiner, Holicek (Austerfield, 46); Tracey (Baker-Richardson, 71), Long (Rowe, 46), Nevitt.

Subs not used: Lenarcik, Finney, Agius.

Booked: Rowe.

Referee: Lewis Smith.

Attendance: 6,491 (512).