Match Report | Crewe 1 Sutton 0

• Railwaymen back up to fourth
• Nevitt hits 15^th of campaign
• Clean sheet for Booth

Elliott Nevitt’s 15^th goal of the season settled an attritional game against Sutton United.

The striker, on as a first-half sub, collected an Aaron Rowe pass and beat the keeper to make clinch a three-point haul for Crewe Alexandra in the 71st minute.

It was a bright spark in a scrappy game, as the rock-bottom visitors battled hard for EFL survival.

But Lee Bell’s men got a first victory in three over the line, and now prepare for a mouthwatering fourth-versus-fifth clash at MK Dons this weekend.

Manager Bell made three changes to the side that lost at Doncaster, with Nevitt, Ryan Cooney and Rowe dropping to the bench.

Courtney Baker-Richardson led the line, while Joel Tabiner and Zac Williams made their first starts since October and December respectively.

But Baker-Richardson’s evening lasted less than 30 seconds, after he landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge and appeared to hurt his head and sustain a shoulder injury. Nevitt was straight into the action.

Sutton, who were without injured former Crewe man Scott Kashket, had an escape on 15 minutes when keeper Steve Arnold spilled a Charlie Kirk cross but was able to block Tabiner’s follow-up shot for a corner.

Craig Clay volleyed over and Nino Adom-Malaki brought a save from keeper Tom Booth, as the visitors applied a little pressure.

On 36 minutes Shilow Tracey nicked the ball away from Arnold and was clobbered by the keeper. Home fans were incredulous when the referee gave nothing.

Josh Coley cut inside and blazed over at the end of a forgettable first half.

Joe Kizzi missed a sitter in the opening stages of the second half when, just a few yards out, he failed to make contact with a cross into the box.

Sub Stephen Duke-McKenna fired a powerful shot into Booth’s gloves, while Williams was inches from tapping in a Nevitt cross at the other end.

Williams had an effort held by Arnold on 69 minutes, but the breakthrough arrived on 71.

Sub Aaron Rowe carried the ball forward before splitting the Sutton defence with a brilliant pass. There was work for Nevitt to do but he held off his man before lifting the ball over the keeper and seeing it creep over the line.

That proved enough for The Railwaymen, who saw the game out fairly comfortably.

Crewe (4-2-3-1): Booth; Adebisi, Turns, Demetriou, Williams; Austerfield, Thomas; Kirk (Leigh, 61), Tabiner (Rowe, 61), Tracey; Baker-Richardson (Nevitt, 5).

Subs not used: Davies, Billington, Finney, Cooney.

Booked: Austerfield.

Sutton (4-2-3-1): Arnold; Kizzi, Jackson, Sowunmi, Adom-Malaki; Moore, Clay; Beautyman (Duke-McKenna, 51), Lakin, Coley; Smith.   

Subs not used: Kerbey, N’Guessan, Eastmond, Taylor, Sanderson, Hart.

Booked: Showunmi, Beautyman, Jackson, Duke-McKenna.

Referee: A Humphries.

Attendance: 3,562 (82).