Crewe EFL Trophy preview

[Sweden Stag]

Following the dramatic injury-time three-pointer at Grimsby last Saturday, the Stags now face EFL Trophy action at headquarters with Crewe Alexandra as the opponents.

This will also be the Stags’ second game in this competition as the first game, at headquarters against Everton U 21 was lost on penalties after the sides had been dead-locked at 1-1 in front of just 824 at One Call a little more than a month ago.

Meanwhile, Crewe lost their first game in this competition at headquarters against Burton to a 1-3 scoreline. But Burton lost their home tie against Everton to a 2-0 scoreline last Tuesday. That result means that the Toffees U 21 are the side most likely to win this group thanks to the extra point they gained by winning the spot-kick shoot-out at One Call.

In the League, Crewe have started quite well and on current form they definitely look a side for the top half this season under manager Dave Artell, appointed Railwaymen boss following the sacking of Steve Davis on the day after a 3-0 Stags rout at One Call on January 7, 2017. Artell is also among the players who have appeared for both sides (see more below).

While the sides have met quite frequently the EFL since the sides first clashed way back in 1932-33 in the old northern section of the third tier, the sides have rarely met in the cups. The cup results are poor reading for Stags fans as Crewe have gone through twice in the FA Cup, the second time in 2002-03 in which was Keith Curle’s first game as Stags boss following the sacking of Stuart Watkiss, another player who also had starred by the Railwaymen.

When the Stags gained their first-ever promotion in 1962-63, Crewe were promoted together in third position. In the 1990-91 campaign, the clubs were relegated together to the basement as well. The Stags’first home fixture in the Division Three 1963-64 campaign in which they were unbeaten at home and scored in every game was a 2-1 victory against Crewe on August 24, 1963, the opening day of that season. And the final game of the 1990-91 season was a Stags 3-0 defeat at Crewe.

When it comes to managers, the Crewe hot seat has been stable during the last three decades. Enter Dario Gradi after succeeding ex-Stags boss Peter Morris during the 1983 close-season, in which Crewe had had to seek re-election for the seventh time in twelve seasons. Gradi steadily built up the Crewe foundations, building up a reputation for nurturing home-grown players, of those several did reach even higher without naming one. Gradi managed over 1000 consecutive Crewe games in all competions, from the bottom half of current League Two to five seasons in current Championship during the first of two Crewe spells there from 1997-98 to 2005-06 interrupted by a League One season in which Crewe beat the Stags on four occasions, two of those in cup competitions, the first being an FA Cup game which was the first one for Keith Curle as Stags boss. Steve Davis was in charge for five years, succeeding Dario Gradi after a total of over 1300 fixtures managed by Gradi.

A proof of Crewe’s home-grown reputation was shown in a League One home fixture against Walsall on April 27, 2013, when the entire Crewe starting eleven were home-grown players. On the other hand, the Walsall line-up including subs then featured three players later to feature for the Stags: James Baxendale, Malvind Benning and Ashley Hemmings while former Stag Craig Westcarr came on as sub for the Saddlers.

Quite a few players have appeared for both sides. One of those, Darren Rowbotham, scored for Crewe against the Stags in 1994 while Gary Roberts (who played for the Stags a few years ago) was one of TWO Gary Roberts playing for Crewe in the 2007-08 season. The other Gary Roberts was red-carded when playing for the Spireites against the Stags over five years ago.

Played for both sides: Nicky Ajose, Dave Artell, Andrew Barrowman, Lee Bell, Eric Betts, Keith Briggs, Harry Broome, Junior Brown, Andy Carr, Peter Clark (1960’s). Chris Clements (one FA Cup game for Crewe), Digger Daley, Colin Daniel, Len Featherby, David Goodwin, Ivan Hollett, Nicky Hunt, Harold Kay, Stanley Keery, Adam King, Phil Kite, Colin Little, Nicky Maynard, John Meehan, John Moore, Frederick Morris, Adie Moses, Stuart Naylor, Vadaine Oliver, Michael Raynes, Gary Roberts, Darren Rowbotham, Scott Shearer, Alan Sheehan, Aman Verma, Stuart Watkiss, Frank Watson, Andy White, Steve Wilkinson, Billy Yates.

Managed both sides: Peter Morris

Home stats: P 38, W 21, D 8, L 9, GF 88, GA 54
Away stats: P 38, W 9, D 9, L 20, GF 47, GA 64

Season Home Date Away Date

1932-33 4-0 1932-09-24 0-7 1933-02-04 Div 3 (N)
1933-34 4-1 1933-12-09 1-2 1934-04-21 Div 3 (N)
1934-35 4-1 1934-10-20 1-1 1935-03-02 Div 3 (N)
1935-36 1-1 1935-12-21 1-1 1936-04-25 Div 3 (N)
1936-37 1-4 1936-12-25 1-2 1936-12-28 Div 3 (N)
1947-48 3-1 1947-09-01 0-0 1947-08-27 Div 3 (N)
1948-49 5-1 1948-10-16 1-3 1949-03-12 Div 3 (N)
1949-50 3-0 1949-09-24 1-1 1950-02-04 Div 3 (N)
1950-51 4-1 1951-02-24 0-2 1950-10-07 Div 3 (N)
1951-52 2-1 1952-04-12 0-1 1952-04-23 Div 3 (N)
1952-53 3-0 1952-11-01 0-1 1953-03-21 Div 3 (N)
1953-54 6-0 1953-12-25 0-0 1953-12-26 Div 3 (N)
1954-55 4-2 1954-08-30 1-2 1954-08-25 Div 3 (N)
1955-56 1-1 1955-08-27 1-2 1955-12-24 Div 3 (N)
1956-57 2-1 1957-04-20 4-6 1957-04-27 Div 3 (N)
1957-58 2-1 1957-12-28 0-1 1957-08-31 Div 3 (N)
1960-61 1-1 1960-10-22 2-1 1961-03-11 Div 4 (old)
1961-62 1-1 1962-04-23 2-3 1962-04-20 Div 4 (old)
1962-63 2-2 1962-09-15 0-3 1963-05-08 Div 4 (old)
1963-64 2-1 1963-08-24 2-3 1963-12-14 Div 3 (old)
1968-69 2-1 1968-12-21 1-2 1968-10-18 Div 3 (old)
1972-73 5-1 1973-02-24 4-0 1972-12-16 Div 4 (old)
1973-74 1-2 1974-02-10 1-1 1973-09-22 Div 4 (old)
1974-75 0-0 1974-09-14 2-0 1974-12-26 Div 4 (old)
1980-81 4-1 1981-01-17 2-1 1980-11-29 Div 4 (old)
1981-82 0-1 1981-10-24 2-0 1982-03-13 Div 4 (old)
1982-83 1-0 1983-03-28 2-1 1982-10-01 Div 4 (old)
1983-84 3-3 1983-12-31 3-1 1984-05-07 Div 4 (old)
1984-85 0-2 1984-09-15 1-1 1985-01-26 Div 4 (old)
1985-86 2-2 1985-09-11 1-2 1986-04-11 Div 4 (old)
1989-90 2-1 1990-04-28 1-2 1989-10-11 Div 3 (old)
1990-91 1-3 1990-11-03 0-3 1991-05-11 Div 3 (old)
1991-92 4-3 1992-03-31 2-1 1991-09-13 Div 4 (old)
1993-94 1-2 1994-02-26 1-2 1993-09-04 Div 3
2002-03 0-5 2002-08-31 0-2 2003-01-01 Div 2
2016-17 3-0 2017-01-07 1-1 2016-10-01 League Two
2017-18 3-4 2018-04-07 2-2 2017-08-05 League Two
2018-19 1-2 2019-03-23 3-0 2018-10-30 League Two

FA Cup

1995-96 0-2 1995-12-02 2nd round at Gresty Road
2002-03 0-3 2002-12-07 2nd round at Gresty Road

JPT Trophy

1994-95 2-2 1994-11-08 Group stage
2002-03 0-4 2002-10-22 1st round Northern Section

Could be a few goals if previous games are something to go by. Come on Mansfield!