Back-to-back heavy defeats halt good run
Crewe Alexandra's Under 23's good run that saw them sit in second place in the U23 PDL2 table ended with a bump with two heavy defeats in the space of a week.After last week's 4-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, Crewe succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to Millwall at Reaseheath.
None scored & seven conceded in two games will alarm U23 manager Alex Morris, who had previously overseen a run of four wins in five games.
Against Millwall, Crewe started brightly & Charlie Kirk had a hat-trick of chances to take the lead inside 16 minutes. First he tested the keeper with an angled drive inside 60 seconds, before he had a low shot deflected just wide & then a 20-yard curler drop just wide of the post.
From almost nowhere, the Lions took the lead on 28 minutes. Striker Kyron Mundle-Smith was brought down in the box by Perry Ng & picked himself up to send Dave Richards the wrong way with the penalty.
There-on after, Millwall controlled proceedings with ease - centre back Rian Bray clipping the crossbar with a flicked volley six minutes before the interval.
Despite a positive Crewe start to the second period with Josh Lundstram hitting a low shot wide, Millwall doubled their lead on 59 minutes - Noel Leighton pouncing on a cross that fortuitously fell into his path to stab a shot under Richards.
The visitors completed the scoring 17 minutes from time, Leighton winning possession on the right-wing and driving into the box before coolly rounding a defender & Richards in one movement to slot into the net.
Morris' side play Sheffield United next week (Mon 12 Dec, 7pm KO) at the Alexandra Stadium in a bid to get back to winning way.
Crewe: Richards, Bullock (Woodcock, 79), Ray, Ng, Yates, Lundstram, Wintle, Kirk, Ainley, Pickering (Finney, 65), Reilly (Lowery, 50)
View all the games' goals below