See how the press reported our 4-1 loss to Swindon
The Sentinel
FRESH-faced Crewe were made to look their age as they were blown away in the first half by promotion-chasing Swindon.
A double from Adam Rooney was instrumental in sending a very young Crewe side on their way to defeat.
On reflection, this was always going to be a very tough night for one of the youngest starting line-ups in Crewe's history, against a free-scoring Swindon side still rated as one of the best in League One.
The Alex were without keeper Steve Phillips, captain Luke Murphy, key midfielder Abdul Osman and top scorer Mathias Pogba, as well as left-back Gregor Robertson, and fielded a team with an average age of only just 21.
It dropped to 20 when 19-year-old George Ray replaced the injured Mark Ellis, aged 24, at centre-back at half-time, but by then the Railwaymen were 3-0 down thanks to Rooney (2) and Massimo Luongo.
Harry Davis made it 3-1 from the spot after Max Clayton was felled in the 65th minute by Wes Foderingham, who was very fortunate to only receive a yellow card from referee Andy Davies, but Jim Collins put the game to bed minutes later with Swindon's fourth.
Swindon Advertiser
IT’S AMAZING how much can change in 90 minutes.
In the hours leading up to Crewe’s visit to the County Ground there was a palpable tension around Swindon Town. Defeats to Sheffield United, MK Dons and Doncaster had left the Robins’ play-off push stuttering and in danger of imploding.
But four goals and one thoroughly impressive performance later, perhaps the mood around the club will improve.
This was the kind of display Swindon’s football-going public had been waiting for for months. With no home win since January 19, no victory of any kind in five and only one goal in that time – it seemed the players had saved their very best up and Crewe were the unfortunate victims.
The style was back, the swagger was back, the quality and class and team spirit returned in an awesome maelstrom that had Alex’s kids wondering what on earth had hit them.
Two goals from Adam Rooney and one from the insatiable Massimo Luongo put Town out of sight within half-an-hour and, though Harry Davis fired home a penalty, James Collins made sure the Robins had the last laugh.
The Sun
ADAM ROONEY’S double helped derail the Railwaymen and put his side back on track.
Swindon had won only three of 12 games and slipped from second in the table after former manager Paolo Di Canio left in February.
But new boss Kevin MacDonald is now eyeing promotion via the play-offs and said: “The whole group put in a very good performance and we need to do that for another five games.”
Rooney opened the scoring in the fifth minute, pouncing from two yards after Aden Flint nodded down a free-kick.
Massimo Luongo bravely headed a second in the 18th minute.
Hotshot Rooney grabbed his second seven minutes later when he nodded in Luongo’s corner from eight yards.
Harry Davis pulled a goal back from the spot in the 65th minute after Max Clayton was brought down by keeper Wes Foderingham.
But sub James Collins sealed the win with a 71st-minute strike from just outside the area.
Crewe boss Steve Davis said: “We looked at some of our squad players.
“Some have done well and some haven’t.”
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard
IF EVER a result was needed it was Swindon Town’s 4-1 home win against Crewe on Tuesday night.
Three defeats in a row – the two in Yorkshire at Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield Utd being arguably our two worst displays of the whole season -- threatened to undo all the good work of this campaign.
Now a victory against a distinctly ordinary Stevenage at home on Saturday and at least a play-off place is booked.