What the press made of the Coventry mauling
The Chronicle
Crewe Alex were hammered 5-0 at home by promotion-chasing Coventry City at Gresty Road on Saturday.
The Railwaymen made some terrible individual errors as the Sky Blues ran riot in the first half.
Adam Armstrong blasted a hat-trick and Jacob Murphy hit a double to leave Crewe rock bottom and six points from safety in League One.
The game was over by half-time. Despite some good forward play from the Alex, terrible mistakes from Jon Guthrie and James Jones gifted Armstrong his first and third, while Marcus Haber’s clumsy trip on Romain Vincelot allowed him a second from the penalty spot.
Jacobs had curled an excellent second and the team were roundly booed off at the break.
The Alex improved after the restart and only they will know how they didn’t get on the scoresheet as chances came and went for the likes of Jones, Ryan Lowe and David Fox.
The Sentinel
CREWE started 2016 in the worst possible fashion as they were beaten 5-0 at home by Coventry City, sending them back to the bottom of League, and six points from safety.
Coventry were 4-0 up at the break, and could easily have had more, after a wretched opening 45 minute display from the hosts who were completely outplayed.
They didn't help themselves however, with a series of mistakes, which played a big part in Coventry building such an advantage.
Newcastle loanee Adam Armstrong bagged a first half hat-trick, including a penalty after Marcus Haber felled Romain Vincelot, while Jacob Murphy curled home an excellent second. before he completed the scoring late on with a fine right-foot finish.
The Coventry Telegraph
City attacked from the kick-off with Joe Cole clean through but missing in the first minute but they visitors got the early goal when Armstrong struck on ten minutes. The Sky Blues are well on top and race to a 3-0 lead in the space of four minutes when Murphy sticks one in the top corner before Armstrong gets another from the penalty spot. Tony Mowbray’s men controlled the game bar the occasional set-piece they were forced to defend and look every bit contenders for automatic promotion as Arma completes his hat-trick before the break.
Armstrong misses a sitter early in the second half when Crewe eventually attempt a fight-back but are thwarted by two brilliant saves from Reice Charles-Cook before Murphy complete the rout six minutes from time.