• Crewe edge first ever clash between the two sides
• Baker-Richardson scores in second consecutive home game
• Alex move up to sixth place in League Two

Crewe Alexandra earned a hard-fought three points in their first ever meeting with Sutton United.

Courtney Baker-Richardson’s first-half goal proved enough for the win at Mornflake Stadium.

The physical visitors pressed throughout and made life difficult, but Alex Morris’s men stood firm to claim a valuable clean sheet.

The success was an ideal way to bounce back to winning ways, and now The Railwaymen will look to take that momentum into Saturday’s visit of Northampton Town.

Morris made one enforced change to his side, as forward Bassala Sambou began a three-match suspension. Baker-Richardson spearheaded the attack in his full league debut for the club.

Harry Beautyman blazed the first chance of the game wide for the visitors on nine minutes, but not long after The Railwaymen hit the front.

Dan Agyei showed blistering pace to beat Jon Barden down the Alex left and his low cross was thumped home first-time by the onrushing Baker-Richardson.

Lachlan Brook saw an effort blocked after more good wing-play by Agyei on 38 minutes, but Crewe had a let-off when Beautyman clipped the bar with an effort on the stroke of half-time.

After a scrappy start to the second-half, Agyei forced keeper Jack Rose to palm an angled effort over the bar, while at the other end Arthur Okonkwo held a Josh Neufville strike on 67 minutes.

Okonkwo flung himself to flick away a strike at his near post, and Joe Kizzi headed just over as Sutton pressed for a leveller as the clock ticked down.

But the Alex held on for a gritty three points.

Crewe (4-3-3): Okonkwo; Mellor, Offord, Sass-Davies, Williams; Thomas, Uwakwe, Ainley (O Finney, 89); Brook (Leshabela, 91), Baker-Richardson, Agyei.

Subs not used: Booth, C Finney, Tabiner, Griffiths, Evans.

Booked: Uwakwe, Okonkwo

Sutton (4-4-2): Rose; Barden (Smith, 81), John, Kizzi, Milsom; Boldewijn, Eastmond, Beautyman, Neufville (Fadahunsi, 81); Wilson (Gambin, 81), Thomas (Kouassi, 63).

Subs not used: House, Dundas, Ridley.

Booked: Eastmond, Beautyman

Referee: Thomas Parsons.  

Attendance: 3,452 (117).