Sad Cheltenham crash to heavy home defeat
FULL-TIME: On this evidence, Cheltenham Town face a major battle to retain their Football League status after a decade in the professional ranks. They were taken apart by a Crewe side who had lost seven of their previous eight matches. It was Cheltenham's joint-heaviest Football League defeat as the extent of the damage left behind by suspended manager Martin Allen became very apparent. Cheltenham have gone nine matches without a win at the Abbey Business Stadium and they now lie perilously close to the League Two drop zone. Acting boss John Schofield's men had their moments, striking the woodwork on three occasions and the scoreline did flatter Crewe somewhat, but the Railwaymen's finishing was clinical as they burst back to form under returning boss Dario Gradi. Crewe won 4-0 on their first visit to Cheltenham on Boxing Day in 2002 and they repeated that feat to leave the Robins red faced ahead of next weekend's FA Cup trip to Torquay United.
90 mins: Kyle Haynes, who scored four goals for the youth team in mid-week went on in place of Holmar Eyjolfsson in the 67th minute and Low's strong run ended with Hutton crossing for Alsop, whose header crashed against the bar. Within seconds, Crewe had counter-attacked and DANNY SHELLEY had time and space to beat Brown in the 69th minute. Hayles danced through int he 72nd minute and went down looking for a penalty, but the veteran was penalised for a foul and ZOLA made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute, forcing the ball over the line from close range after Shelley's ball in rolled across the six yard box. Only another fine save from Brown denied Shelley a fifth at the death as a nightmare afternoon for the Robins drew to a close.
65 mins: David Hutton went on for Artus after an hour. Hutton won two corners, but the deliveries were poor. Townsend fed Diallo, whose cross was helped on by Alsop to Hammond, but his shot flashed the wrong side of the left upright in the 62nd minute.
55 mins: The second half got underway without Crewe goalkeeper Legzdins on the field! But he soon emerged from the dressing rooms much to the amusement of the crowd and Cheltenham did not have an opportunity to strike towards the empty net. Barry Hayles was introduced to the action in the 51st minute, replacing Pook.
HALF-TIME: Hammond tried his luck with a curling effort that deflected off a defender for a corner in the 36th minute and Cheltenham looked capable of levelling before the break, but Crewe doubled their lead in the 38th minute. Bailey's delivery was half cleared to STEVE SCHUMACHER, who slammed a low shot past Brown to leave Cheltenham with a massive task in the second half. Hammond rolled a low ball across the face of goal, but Westwood cleared before Lewis could pounce. Schumacher inadvertently sliced a clearance into his own box and Artus seized on the loose ball, but Legzdins turned his shot over the bar and the final action of the first period saw Brown deny Zola from point blank range after Miller's cross.
30 mins: A turn and shot by Danny Shelley was deflected over by Brown to give Crewe their seventh corner in the 21st minute. The overworked Brown saved from Miller, who was in an offside position when he headed from close range in the 23rd minute. Hammond combined with Low to set up Bird for a shot on the edge of the box that Legzdins did well to push onto the right post. Crewe took the lead int he 29th minute when Bailey's ball was laid off by Ada to Miller, whose cross was headed in by CALVIN ZOLA. Low's cross was met by the head of Artus, but Ashley Westwood cleared over the bar from inside the six yard box.
20 mins: Frankie Artus hit the bar with a rasping drive in the 12th minute with Legzdins beaten and Hammond followed up, but was crowded out along with Julian Alsop. A neat move involving Hammond ended with Josh Low's cross being nodded down by Alsop into the path of Pook, but his shot was weak and well wide.
10 mins: Elvis Hammond almost caught out Crewe's stand-in goalkeeper Adam Legzdins, who took too long to clear his lines, but the ball was eventually hacked to safety with Hammond close to getting in a block. Crewe carved out the first clear chance of the match in the eighth minute when a long ball from James Bailey fell to Shaun Miller in space, but Scott Brown made a good reaction stop at his near post. Bailey's free-kick then reached John Brayford, whose header sailed over the bar. Crewe forced four early corners and started the match strongly.
TEAM NEWS: For the first time this season, Cheltenham Town are unchanged as acting manager John Schofield's influence on the team continues to shine through.
Schofield names the same XI that drew 1-1 at Port Vale a week ago as Crewe Alexandra visit Whaddon Road for this afternoon's clash.
Cheltenham are without a home win since the opening day of the season, when they defeated Grimsby Town 2-1 on August 8.
Eight matches have passed since then and the pressure is on the Robins to break their home duck against a struggling Crewe side.
The only change to the matchday 18 comes on the bench, where back-up goalkeeper Will Puddy replaces Barry Richardson.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; H Eyjolfsson (K Haynes 67), M Townsend, D Diallo, J Low; D Bird, M Pook (B Hayles 51), T Lewis; E Hammond, J Alsop, F Artus (D Hutton 60).
Subs not used: A Gallinagh, J Richards, M Watkins, W Puddy.
CREWE ALEXANDRA: A Legzdins; J Brayford, M Mitchel-King, P Ada, A Westwood; D Shelley, S Schumacher (S Walton 74), J Bailey, J Grant; C Zola (C Donaldson 80) S Miller (B Moore 87).
Subs not used: B Jones, D O'Donnell, L Murphy, B Bossu.
REFEREE: G D Scott.
ATTENDANCE: 3,124 (231 from Crewe).
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