Matchday Guide | Colchester (A)

9 April 2023

Crewe Alexandra travel to Essex in the second part of their Easter schedule as they take on Colchester United (Monday, 3pm).

Lee Bell’s side will look to make it three consecutive victories, after dispatching Barrow 3-0 on Good Friday courtesy of two penalties from Dan Agyei and a first strike of the season from Christopher Long.

The Opposition

Colchester United sit 20^th in League Two on 39 points, a point above the relegation zone with six games to go. On Good Friday, The U’s earned an impressive 1-1 draw at promotion-chasing Stevenage.

The Gaffer

Ben Garner took over at Colchester Community Stadium last month, and is still looking for his first win after five games at the helm.

The Kent-born boss has also held positions with Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town and Charlton Athletic, and nearly guided Swindon to League One last season.

Fighting Talk

Dan Agyei (Alex forward): “The most important thing is the team winning and building, and now we turn our attention to Colchester, and we’ll try to get another three points there.”

Connor Hall (Colchester defender): “It’s pretty obvious we’re in a relegation fight – there’s no getting away from that. It’s still in our hands, so with the games left for the rest of the season, we’ve got to make sure we get better points than the teams below us.”

Team News

Crewe await to see if Tariq Uwakwe will be fit to make the squad for Saturday’s trip, but Ryan Finnigan and Zac Williams remain sidelined.

Colchester will assess the fitness of Kwesi Appiah, Cole Skuse, Sam Hornby, Tom Dallison and Alan Judge for Monday’s clash.

Head-to-Head

The U’s hold the upper hand in past meetings between both clubs, winning 29 times compared to the Railwaymen’s 22 victories. Earlier on this season, a late Dan Agyei strike was enough to separate both sides in a scrappy 1-0 victory for the Alex.

Ticket Details

For information on away tickets at Jobserve Community Stadium click HERE.

How To Get There

For information on how to get to Jobserve Community Stadium click HERE.

Officials

Will Finnie will take charge of proceedings on Monday afternoon, having last officiated the Alex in April 2022, a 3-1 home defeat to Fleetwood Town.

He will be assisted by Ryan Whitaker and Gareth Viccars, with Aji Ajibola appointed as fourth official.

Elsewhere in League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Salford City; Barrow v Crawley Town; Bradford City v Sutton United; Doncaster Rovers v Grimsby Town; Hartlepool United v Stevenage; Leyton Orient v Harrogate Town; Mansfield v Rochdale; Northampton Town v Gillingham; Stockport County v Newport County; Tranmere Rovers v Swindon Town; Walsall v Carlisle United.

Can't Make The Game?

Crewe fans in the UK and around the world can watch the clash with Colchester live on iFollow.

An iFollow match pass for Crewe fixtures includes graphics and replays – all for just £10 (or local equivalent).

The action is 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!

Match Reports

Match Report | Colchester 4 Crewe 0

10 April 2023

Railwaymen are well beaten in Essex
Three first-half goals do the damage
The Railwaymen drop to 17^th in division

Crewe Alexandra were heavily beaten at Colchester United on Easter Monday.

Goals from John Akinde (2), Noah Chilvers, and Samson Tovide, confirmed an extremely disappointing afternoon for The Railwaymen.

The Reds' display dashed hopes of making it three wins on the spin, and they dropped to 17^th in League Two as a result.

Lee Bell made just one change to the side that beat Barrow last time out, recalling Sean Robertson to the starting line-up. Kelvin Mellor dropped to the bench.

Colchester, searching for a first win under new boss Ben Garner, went close early on but Akinde’s header was narrowly wide.

On 12 minutes keeper James Beadle made a super save to push away a Tovide header, as the home side did all the early running.

Dan Agyei danced past a couple of defenders on a run into the box but failed to find a teammate when he crossed from close in.

And when the Crewe attack broke down, Colchester swept up the pitch and found Akinde, who controlled and finished for 1-0, on 25 minutes.

It was 2-0 on 28 minutes. The ball was delivered from the U’s left and when Rod McDonald, on for the injured Connor O’Riordan, tried to head clear the ball was deflected to Akinde who had a simple task to stroke home.

Chilvers drilled wide and Akinde headed over as the Alex struggled to get a foothold in the game.

And it was 3-0 on 40 minutes when Chilvers was allowed to cut inside and find the bottom corner from outside the area.

Courtney Baker-Richardson almost forced the ball home in a scramble just before the break, but Crewe had given themselves a mountain to climb.

Bell made three changes at the break, bringing on Elliott Nevitt, Christopher Long, and Mellor, in place of Baker-Richardson, Lachlan Brook, and Rio Adebisi.

Tovide made it 4-0 on 55 minutes when he siezed possession in the middle of the park and ran through before producing a clinical finish.

United subs Matt Jay and Jayden Fevrier both threatened to add more, while at the other end Agyei forced a smart stop from keeper Tom Smith.

Colchester (3-5-2): Smith; Chambers, Kelleher, Hall; Chilvers (Jay, 66), Read (Skuse, 67), Ashley, Wood, Tchamadeu (Greenidge, 61); Akinde (Hopper, 62), Tovide (Fevrier, 76).

Subs not used: Newby, Sears.

Booked: None.

Crewe (4-3-3): Beadle; Robertson, O’Riordan (McDonald, 22), Offord, Adebisi (Mellor, 46); Thomas, Ainley (Griffiths, 84), Tabiner; Agyei, Brook (Long, 46), Baker-Richardson (Nevitt, 46).

Subs not used: Richards, Colkett.

Booked: Tabiner, Adebisi

Referee: Will Finnie.

Attendance: 4,158 (188)