Big Match Review - Crewe 1 Gillingham 1

Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Gillingham

Saturday January 12, Gresty Road, (Att: 4,012)

Play off hopefuls Crewe Alexandra and Gillingham were forced to share the spoils at Gresty Road as a Curtis Weston strike in the second half earned the visitors a point.

Chances were at a premium early on, with the best opportunity falling to Danny Shelley - but Gills keeper Alan Julian stopped his strike with his legs.

Andy Hessenthaler's side then went behind in bizarre circumstances when substitute Tony Sinclair diverted Shelley's cross from the left into his own net after 26 minutes.

Gillingham struggled to find a riposte, however, they eventually got back on level terms in stunning style ten minutes after the interval.

Weston latched onto a loose ball and his fierce drive from 25 yards beat the low dive of Rhys Taylor down to the keeper's left.

Both sides pushed for a winner, with Bayo Akinfenwa being denied by the foot of Taylor before a Weston shot was deflected wide by Dave Artell.

Dario Gradi's men also had their opportunities, with a Shelley shot going close as well as Julian being called into action to keep out Luke Murphy's stinging shot at his near post.

Ultimately, it was a fair point all round - which keeps the Kent side in 6th while Alex sit four points beind them in 9th, albeit with two games in hand on their top seven rivals.

Big Match Preview - Crewe vs. Gillingham

Crewe Alexandra vs. Gillingham

Saturday February 12, 15:00, Gresty Road

It's a contest between two teams with an eye on the top seven in League Two this weekend as Gillingham make the long trip up to Cheshire to take on Crewe Alexandra.

While the hosts have been in and around the play off positions for the majority of the campaign though, the Gills have risen into contention after a disastrous start to the season.

Tuesday evening's win against Rotherham left them in a season-high of 6th in the standings - as they begin to justify their tag as one of the pre-season favourites for promotion to League One.

However, back in November, with a third of the season played, the Kent outfit were in 22nd - outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone.

Much of their woes stemmed up from an horrific away record where a run of more than 30 games without winning away finally ending with a 1-0 success at Oxford.

Since then, Andy Hessenthaler's side have also tasted victory at the struggling trio of Barnet, Macclesfield, and Stockport.

Defeats on the road have been suffered at the hands of Northampton, Bradford, Wycombe, and extraordinary 5-4 and 7-4 losses to Bury and Accrington respectively.

Key performers for Gillingham this term have been on-loan Norwich striker, Cody McDonald, who has bagged 15 goals for himself, and fellow forward Bayo Akinfenwa always provides a handful for opposition defences.

Veteran Dario Gradi is hoping to guide his Crewe team into the play offs

Opponents Crewe come into the match lying just outside the play off positions in 8th, however they do possess games in hand over teams above them in the top seven.

They come into the match off the back of successive away defeats, however, including a 6-2 thumping at Northampton before being beaten by high flying Rotherham 3-1 last weekend.

Better news has come in the shape of their recent home form though. The Alex have won their last four home games, seeing off Bradford, Port Vale, Wycombe, and Northampton.

Other victories at Gresty Road have come against Aldershot, Bury, and an incredible 7-0 thumping of Barnet. However, three sides - Hereford, Shrewsbury, and Rotherham have all defeated them on home soil.

Veteran boss Dario Gradi will have to do without the services of top scorer Clayton Donaldson though, whose 16 goals have been vital to Crewe's challenge.

In his absence, they will look to Shaun Miller, a product from Alex's famed youth academy, to add to his tally of 13 goals this term.

It's important to recognise that this Gillingham side is an altogether more difficult proposition on the road than earlier on in the campaign.

However, they have struggled to win at some of the better sides so, given Crewe's decent home form, this one could well end all square.

Nobes' Prediction: Crewe Alexandra 1 Gillingham 1

Classic Campaigns - League Two 1986/7

Our series reflecting on classic Football League seasons from the past continues.

With Torquay hosting Crewe in League Two this evening, Nobes looks back on when the pair met in the basement division 24 years ago. A final day like no other, for so many reasons.

The Orient Game: 1987 was an emotional year for all Burnley followers

Every dog has its day. So goes the old saying, anyway. For one, it came on May 9 1987 - the final day of an historic season in the basement division of English football.

Twenty four years ago, Torquay United against Crewe Alexandra was both sides' final game of the 1986/7 season - a match that was of vital importance to the home team whose very Football League existence hung in the balance.

The Devon side were one of three clubs who could end the day bottom of the old Fourth Division - or League Two as it is now called - and slide into the Conference.

This, too, was the first season of automatic promotion and relegation between the Football and Non Leagues, with Scarborough, managed by Neil Warnock, ready to take their place in Division Four as the newly crowned Conference winners.

At the other end of the Fourth Division, one of the biggest stories came at Preston North End. One of the most historic clubs in the country had finished second bottom of the entire Football League 12 months previously.

However, after winning a re-election vote, North End bounced back to finish as runners-up and gain promotion to the third tier.

They weren't able to match the form of Champions Northampton though, who blew their opponents out of the water, including winning 20 and losing just one of their home games all season.

Graham Carr's side with the attacking talent of Richard Hill and Trevor Morley were too hot to handle as they racked up 99 points and over 100 goals. The Cobblers and North End were joined by Southend in winning automatic promotion.

At the wrong end of the table, for much of the season it was the the North West duo of Rochdale and Stockport who were battling to avoid becoming the first side to be automatically relegated from the Football League.

However, as the second half of the season progressed others began to plummet into the relegation mix. One of them was Burnley, one of the original 12 members of the League in their second year in the Fourth Division.

Torquay - who had finished bottom in 1986 - were again in contention for the drop, and Lincoln City had nosedived from 7th at the beginning of January to find themselves in a dogfight.

In the penultimate weekend of the campaign, Burnley suffered a 1-0 reverse to Crewe and hit rock bottom. The Clarets were staring down the barrel of a gun.

Things were to get worse, Rochdale won their game in hand in the midweek before the final day to ensure their safety. Then Tranmere were allowed to play their final match on Friday evening - the Wirral club won to keep themselves up.

That left three in the mix - Burnley, Torquay, and Lincoln. The stage was set for a dramatic final day.

Fixtures:

Burnley vs. Orient
Swansea vs. Lincoln
Torquay vs. Crewe

Table:

.....................P...GD....PTS
22. Lincoln.....45....-18....48
23. Torquay....45....-16....47
-----------------------------------
24. Burnley.....45...-22.....46

Burnley knew that only a win against Orient at Turf Moor would do. If they managed it, then Torquay and Lincoln - the only side travelling - would then come into the picture if they failed to win their respective games.

For the Clarets, Champions of England as recently as 1960, they could scarcely believe the position they found themselves in.

Ask a Burnley supporter now, and they will tell you those 90 minutes in May '87 - known simply as 'The Orient Game' - were arguably the biggest in their club's history.

The prospect of losing professional football from the town - combined with the rise of upcoming neighbours Colne Dynamoes - threatened the very existence of the club.

Over 15,000 crammed into Turf Moor - delaying the first half by 15 minutes - to see if Burnley could pull off a great escape.

Goals from Neil Grewcock and Ian Britton either side of the break put the Lancashire outfit 2-0 up. Alan Comfort pulled a goal back for Orient, but the Clarets held on for a 2-1 victory.

The defeat for Orient cost them a place in the play offs - with Aldershot securing the final birth. The Shots would then go on to beat Bolton and Wolves in the end of season lottery to secure promotion.

The three points were enough for Burnley to survive, too. Emotional scenes at Turf Moor ensued after news had reached them from South Wales - Lincoln City had been beaten 2-0.

However, the story of that day was just of Burnley's great escape - but that of another team.

Burnley's win meant Lincoln and Torquay were in trouble, but the Imps would be safe if the Gulls failed to pick up anything against Crewe.

Things had certainly looked good for City at half time. Crewe, under the management of Dario Gradi, were 2-0 up against Torquay, with one of the goals coming from a young midfielder called David Platt. The Gulls were heading down into the Conference.

Then, early in the second period, Jim McNichol pulled a goal back for the hosts from a free kick. Torquay had hope - another goal would save them from relegation.

Into the last ten minutes and, with the Devonians still seeking a second goal, a police dog called Bryn, in attendance at Plainmoor, reacted to a close challenge by McNichol on his handler.

McNichol sustained a nasty thigh injury from the dog's bite - holding play up by four minutes. They were to prove four crucial minutes.

Deep into added time, a mistake in the Alex backline allowed Paul Dobson to smash home an equaliser for Torquay. Just like at Turf Moor, fans invaded the Plainmoor pitch in joy and relief. The Gulls were staying up.

Torquay's Jim McNichol with unlikely hero Bryn - the dog who bit him

Dobson's goal, however, meant Lincoln, who up until that point had not been bottom of the table all season, had been condemned to relegation.

Final table:

.....................P.....GD....PTS
22. Burnley ...46...-21.....49
23. Torquay...46...-16.....48
-----------------------------------
24. Lincoln.....46...-20.....48

The intervention of Bryn had been crucial. Torquay were safe thanks to Devon's most famous dog since the Hound of the Baskervilles.

Almost a quarter of a century on and Gradi and Crewe return to Plainmoor this evening in much less dramatic circumstances.

Despite his lengthy tenure at the helm, you imagine the events of that May day ensure that it is one game the Alex's long serving boss will never forget.

In Defence

After a glut of goals and high-scoring games in recent weeks in the Football League, Turls analyses the case against the defences.

There were ten goals as Preston came from behind to stun Leeds

It's Saturday afternoon and I'm listening to the football results come in. I tend to zone out most results because I'm usually moaning at how crap Forest are, or jumping up and down and thinking that we'll win the league.

Both these reactions tend to last for a few seconds until I calm down and realise that it's only a game. However, after back-to-back 1-1 draws, I was allowed to bask in the insanity of the remaining scores.

In midweek, ten goals were scored at Elland Road as Preston came from 4-1 down to win 6-4. Incredible game, and the type of thing that rarely happens.

Then I heard that Norwich had beaten Leicester 4-3 at Carrow Road. I wasn't sure what to make of this and then, when the scores kept coming, I heard three games that ended 3-2 and another that had ended 4-2.

Wow! When I looked at the scores online, I realised there were another ten games that involved four goals or more.

Now I'm only a young lad and haven't got many seasons under my belt, but it seemed quite remarkable that one day could provide such a flurry of goals. I worked it out that 98 goals had been scored - that was despite eight games ending 0-0.

It took me until the weekend to recover from that attacking onslaught and I thought I would be looking back on that Tuesday night with a sense of awe.

Instead, I wandered into my house at 5pm - after a day with the lady - to find that another 88 goals had been scored in one day's play.

I didn't know what to say. I just stood there with the remote in my hand trying to figure out what had happened in the last week. Accrington won 7-4 and Chesterfield and Crewe drew 5-5. On the back of that 6-4 and 4-3, I was shocked.

186 goals. In 72 games. At over 2.5 goals a game. Only ten games remained goal-free.

I woke up on Sunday thinking that everyone would be going on about how exciting the Football League is but, when I drew back the curtains, it was raining. A lot.

This dampened my mood, but it also made me realise that, although goals are good for some, they also represent a complete inability to defend.

I'm not one of these people who believe that goals make a great game. I must admit that I do enjoy a game with goals in, but I also love a tactical game of football that ends goalless.

Now this last week has got me thinking. Have strikers got better or have defenders got worse? Maybe a bit of both?

So far this season there have been 19 games that featured six goals or more. Huddersfield have finished either side of a 4-2 score, Peterborough have played in a 5-1, a 4-2, and a 5-2.

Gillingham have lost 5-4 and 7-4. Leicester, Leeds, and Preston have all been involved in two high-scoring games.

I decided to look at the highlights for the following games to see what the quality of defending was like for the following games:

Norwich City 4-3 Leicester City
Leeds United 4-6 Preston North End
Chesterfield 5-5 Crewe Alexandra
Accrington Stanley 7-4 Gillingham

I'll stress that I have only seen the highlights of each game, so can't provide a full picture of the match. If you were at any of the games and can shed some more light on the defending then get in touch with us at soccerammw@gmail.com

Norwich City 4-3 Leicester City

Norwich 0 Leicester 1:

First of all, the Foxes winger is allowed to run about 20-25 yards without anyone putting a tackle in.

Then, upon reaching the area, the Norwich centre back refuses to charge him down and, instead, stands on the corner of the six yard box with his arms out.

He should have closed the gap and stopped the winger from getting the shot away. Still, the keeper should have saved it.

Norwich 1 Leicester 1:

This is a difficult one to claim as bad defending, but it is very much a case of ball watching. As the ball was played in from the left, two Norwich players were allowed to run into the box unaccompanied, thus giving them a numerical advantage.

The ball is then played across the box from the right where a Norwich player is standing with nobody marking him. All a little haphazard in my eyes.

Norwich 2 Leicester 1:

Penalty. Arms raised. Silly.

Norwich 3 Leicester 1:

Can't blame the defence here. The left winger just outpaces Leicester's right back and a beautifully weighted ball frees the scorer down the middle. Good finish.

Norwich 3 Leicester 2:

Bizarre, and quite fluky. A mishit is flicked in a Leicester player's path, he then has his shot cleared off the line before hoofing in the rebound.

A picky man could say the guy who flicked the ball on shouldn't have been able to turn so easily, but it looked like a good piece of play to me.

Norwich 4 Leicester 2:

A 25-yard screamer. Nothing the defence could do.

Norwich 4 Leicester 3:

Good through-ball, good touch past the defender, good finish.

Leeds United 4-6 Preston North End

Leeds 0 Preston 1:

Good wing play down the right, skidding a cross/shot across goal. Keeper can only parry it into the striker's path. Good attacking football.

Leeds 1 Preston 1:

Left winger cuts inside too easily. Shouldn't have been allowed to go inside with that much comfort. Then, when the ball is played in, Preston are outnumbered right in the centre of the goal. Poor defending all round.

Leeds 2 Preston 1:

Long ball pumped in from the left flank towards the back post. When the ball is headed back across goal, Preston are caught ball watching resulting in three Leeds players to line up and head it in.

Leeds 3 Preston 1:

Right winger goes down the flank. Never looks like going past his man after some good jockeying from the full back. He pokes it inside to a player about 15 yards out in acres of space.

How has he got that much space in the box? It's shocking. This guy then scores - unsurprisingly.

Leeds 4 Preston 1:

Preston look a little stretched, despite it only being the first half. The ball is played out to the left where the winger cuts inside past one player, sells a dummy to another, and then drills it into the goal.

Allowed to go inside far too easily and should have been shepherded towards the byline.

Leeds 4 Preston 2:

Ball picked up in the middle after a weak Leeds challenge. It's played out to Preston's striker, who makes a little space to create a shooting chance. Keeper beaten at near post. Rubbish keeping.

Leeds 4 Preston 3:

Scored straight from a corner. Rubbish keeping again.

Leeds 4 Preston 4:

Penalty. Ball played out right, full back does the right thing by herding the winger to the byline but, instead of following his plan through to the end, he decides to dive in when the players is running away from goal.

Ridiculous penalty to give away.

Leeds 4 Preston 5:

Long ball to a fat Preston striker who uses his bulk to turn his man and fire past the keeper. Good strike work. Defender could have stayed squarer instead of getting turned, but Jon Parkin is very good at working defenders over.

Leeds 4 Preston 6:

Long diagonal ball from left to right. Preston man ghosts in at the far post and heads it back towards the far post.

Again, another example of ball watching rather than following the man. There is no way a ball should be travelling that far without being cut out by a defender.

Chesterfield 5-5 Crewe Alexandra

Chesterfield 0 Crewe 1:

Nicely weighted ball aiming towards the back post that splits two players. The onrushing striker nods it in at the far post. The guy who made the cross was closed down well and it was a very well taken goal.

Chesterfield 0 Crewe 2:

Free kick. Don't know why it was given - blame the BBC for that, for me - but it was a beautifully taken goal.

Chesterfield 0 Crewe 3:

Long ball from the back. Nobody attacked the ball properly and when a Chesterfield player did come out to meet it he completely misjudged the bounce and saw the ball fly past him.

Awful defending. They were outnumbered at the back as well, so take your pick on the mistakes made in defence.

Chesterfield 1 Crewe 3:

Nice cross, and the striker gets in front of his man to nod it into the net. You could maybe could argue that the defender should have seen the run, but there is a reason these guys play in League Two.

Chesterfield 1 Crewe 4:

Now this is a great goal. Man cushions it down to a team-mate, makes a run through the middle and receives the return pass and rounds the keeper.

However, nobody is near the goalscorer when he originally brings the ball down and his run is straight. No deviations. No clever stop and starting. Just a straight quick run through the middle.

Defence done for pace, but they should have learned by then that this guy was quick - they were already 3-1 down.

Chesterfield 2 Crewe 4:

Cross from the right. Jack Lester ghosts in at the back stick and nods it in. Clever run, but the full back was caught ball watching.

Chesterfield 3 Crewe 4:

Penalty. Dived in close to the byline. Stupid challenge.

Chesterfield 3 Crewe 5:

Free kick drifted in from the right, headed towards goal, and turned in by a striker. The guy who headed it looked to have no pressure on him, but he seemed to engineer his room well.

Chesterfield 4 Crewe 5:

Another penalty. This one wasn't as stupid as the last one. A good lay off allowed the striker to run through where he was bundled over.

Contact was made, but it wasn't an overly stupid challenge. Over excited shoulder barge would be one way to put it - but a definite penalty.

Chesterfield 5 Crewe 5:

Shot from outside the box. Well taken, but should have been closed down. Crewe were probably mentally and physically tired, but it still doesn't excuse how he just sauntered to the edge of the box to have a pop.

Accrington Stanley 7-4 Gillingham

Accrington 1 Gillingham 0:

Smart work down the right freed up space for the cross where the man was picked out brilliantly.

Maybe he should have been marked, but the winger turned the defence around and put them out of position with his skills. Well taken goal.

Accrington 1 Gillingham 1:

Long throw in flicked in at the near post. Long throws are difficult to deal with, as anyone who has played Stoke will tell you, so it's hard to question the defending here.

Accrington 1 Gillingham 2:

Although the start of this was a long ball, the end was nice. Big man flicks it on to another big man, who flicks it down to a little man, who flicks it on to the original big man who has made a run into the box. Goal.

It happened quickly so Accrington shouldn't be too hard on themselves. I wouldn't be.

Accrington 2 Gillingham 2:

Another well worked goal - the player had the defence twisting and turning before the ball was slotted into the corner. Can't do too much as a defender apart from drop a reducer in there.

Accrington 3 Gillingham 2:

The ball has been played inside and two players are running on to it - attacker and defender. Defender slides in - meaning he has to win the ball or foul the man.

He did neither, allowing the attacker to chip a beauty inside the far post. If you're going to go to ground as a defender, you have to win the ball.

Accrington 3 Gillingham 3:

Not sure how the winger broke free, but the way he got round the last man is ludicrous. The defender thinks a shot is going to come in, so jumps in front of the onrushing attacker to block it.

Said attacker pokes it past him and lifts it over the keeper. If that were me, I'd be looking back and asking myself why I didn't just stand my ground.

Accrington 4 Gillingham 3:

Penalty. Looked a little harsh, but he had his hands all over him so the ref had to give it if he saw it.

These types of penalties should be given more often but, because they aren't, defenders think they can get away with giving an attacker a hug.

Accrington 5 Gilingham 3:

Penalty. Wingers dances past full back on the left and cuts inside. Full back gets back and makes the tackle. Looks like he wins the ball in a very good tackle. Harshly given.

Accrington 6 Gillingham 3:

Long ball down the right. Man is in acres of space. Defence has clearly tried to play an offside trap that hasn't worked. Striker keeps going and slips it under the keeper.

Accrington 6 Gillingham 4:

Penalty. Who knows what was happening here? Long ball flicked on and the ball is then allowed to bounce. Defender nods it back to the keeper who makes a right hash of it and ultimately brings down the striker.

Accrington 7 Gillingham 4:

Ball lifted cleverly over the top down the right and the attacker hammers it into the far corner. Done and done.


Conclusion:

Out of those 38 goals, I calculate that at least 14 of them came as a result of bad defending. That means about a third of the goals could have been stopped had the defence been more organised.

Unsurprisingly, five of these examples of poor defending came in the Leeds/Preston game. Neither team has a particularly good defensive record - and it's easy to see why.

Maybe I'm being a little harsh on the defenders, but it seems to be that the quality has reduced over the years. Maybe they are struggling to adapt to the change in centre forwards?

Gone are the days of a huge lumbering striker leading the line, instead, more emphasis appears to be placed on quick and lightweight players who are able to create space and turn the defence more easily.

For many of the goals, the defenders are caught ball watching - a problem that should not be affecting professional footballers. Ball watching should be an issue saved for Sunday League football, not the Championship.

Diving in also appears to be a problem. Most of the penalties were conceded in positions that didn't pose a direct threat to the goal and a few of them when the attacker was running away from goal.

They are silly fouls to give away, and the managers should be forcing the issue that you should not dive in on a man who is on the edge of the area at the byline.

Goals make games more exciting for the majority of fans so maybe we shouldn't be complaining too much.

However, I honestly feel that if the defensive lines aren't shored up, we could see more and more games finish with at least six goals in them.

Turls will be analysing the defending for goals in our Big Matches over the coming weeks as part of his focus on the state of defences.

What if... re-election hadn't ended?

Our series where we take a look back at pivotal moments in Football League history continues as Nobes asks what would have happened had automatic promotion from the Non Leagues not been introduced?

Walls come tumbling down: change was in the air 23 years ago

It's with a huge degree of bias that I say the following: 1987 was a special year. Indeed, there was plenty going on 23 years ago.

Maggie Thatcher was wrapping up a second landslide victory to stay in Number 10 for a third term. She then gave the go ahead for the Channel Tunnel to be constructed.

It was also the year of the Great Storm - Britain's worst for nearly 300 years - that battered parts of south and east England. Famously, the previous evening BBC weatherman Michael Fish had dismissed the storm happening.

In popular culture, Americans first caught a glimpse of a TV family called The Simpsons.

After far too many years of an ageing Roger Moore as James Bond getting cosy with much too young lasses we had a new 007, as well, with Timothy Dalton taking over the reins.

Things, it seemed, were changing. Typified by, perhaps, the most famous quote of all 1987 from US President Ronald Reagan who, on a visit to Berlin, demanded: "Mr Gorbachev - tear down this wall!"

That wouldn't happen for another couple of years. However, one barrier was being removed a little closer to home - that between the Football and Non Leagues.

Up until 1987, clubs seeking to gain promotion to the Football League from the Conference had to be elected by current League members.

It was the ultimate 'closed shop' with members able to prevent new clubs joining in favour of keeping the established order in place.

Indeed, the first eight winners of the Conference - established as the outright top division of Non League football in 1979 - failed to win election to the league.

Things had to change - and, in '87, they did. For the first time, the side who finished 92nd in the Football League would drop out of the top four tiers and be replaced by the Conference winners - as long as their ground met regulations.

So, it was probably appropriate that, in May 1987, Starship sat on top of the UK charts with 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.' It was the prevailing mood among the ambitious clubs of the Conference desperate for their chance in the big time.

Neil Warnock and Martin O'Neill both led clubs into the Football League

That feeling was exhibited no more than on the North Sea coast - where the seaside town of Scarborough was celebrating their team having soared to the Conference title under the management of an ambitious Yorkshireman called Neil Warnock.

The Seadogs were to take their place in the Football League - eventually replacing Lincoln City - relegated after a frantic final day scrap also involving Torquay, and former English champions, Burnley.

The Imps became the first club to ever automatically be relegated from the 92 club - although they bounced back at the first attempt. No doubt they were thankful for the same rule they were cursing only 12 months earlier.

It was the beginning of the constant flow between the two divisions which - albeit thrice interrupted in the mid-1990s because of the condition of the grounds of the Conference winners - has become a natural feature of the English game.

In doing so, too, it opened the door to so many clubs previously restricted to try and make their mark in the Football League.

Just imagine, for a minute though, what might have happened had re-election not been scrapped? What if the team who won the Conference had to rely on a vote to gain membership of the Football League?

Without the change to the rules in 1987, what would fate have held for the likes of Wycombe Wanderers - Buckinghamshire's first professional club long before the MK Dons came into existence?

The Chairboys gained entry into the Football League in 1993 under Martin O'Neill and soon established themselves in what is now League One - remaining there for a decade.

In the past 17 years, they've also made it both the League Cup and FA Cup semi finals - memorably giving Chelsea and Liverpool runs for their respective money. Without automatic promotion, it may never have happened.

Yeovil Town, too, finally reached the promised land in 2004 after near misses in elections. After winning promotion in only their second season, they're now in their sixth consecutive season in the third tier.

Two clubs who, until the rules were changed, would never have been able to be the credit to the Football League they have become. Two counties in Buckinghamshire and Somerset that would never have enjoyed 92 club status.

Some could argue that they would have got there eventually. With persistence, a vote would have gone their way.

Altrincham's Moss Lane could have been a Football League ground in the '80s

Possibly, but history also shows that clubs who missed the boat have never got as close again.

Take the example of Enfield. The Hertfordshire outfit won the Conference title in 1983 and 1986 - the final season of re-election. They missed out in the vote on both occasions.

It was to prove their high point. The club spiralled back down the pyramid and financial problems eventually saw them wound up and a new club created in 2007.

Altrincham, too, are another club who seemed to have missed the Football League boat. The Greater Manchester outfit won the first two Conference titles but lost out in the re-election process both times.

That included, in 1980, losing out by just a single vote. Although they are still in the Conference, they are now a small fish competing alongside a plethora of ex-League teams. They may never return to those same heights.

For every Yeovil, Wycombe, or Boston - who lost out on a vote in 1978 before finally winning promotion in 2002 - there are clubs like Wealdstone and Runcorn who drifted into obscurity when they didn't win election as Conference champions.

The Football League landscape could look very different to what it does now - and not just with the teams who could have made it, but those who've dropped down.

This season's Conference has more of a look of a 'League Three' about it than the top division of Non League football. True, there are still Histons and Eastbournes.

However, a division including the likes of Luton, Grimsby, Mansfield, Wrexham, York, Darlington, and Cambridge deserves respect.

The second relegation place - following on from the removal of re-election - has not only opened the door to many Non League outfits, but also seen an increase in the quality and size of clubs in the Conference.

It's also unlikely the likes of Carlisle, Exeter, Shrewsbury, or Oxford - all relegated from League Two before being subsequently re-promoted - would have ever lost a re-election vote.

All four clubs dropped down but returned stronger than when they went down into the Non Leagues. Arguably, it allowed them to start again and get things moving in the right direction.

Would the Crewe and Dario Gradi story have been the same without re-election?

With re-election, they could have survived by the skin of their teeth and never found any forward momentum - continuing instead to toil around the lower reaches of the basement division.

The argument could even be extended further - what if re-election had never existed in the first place? With the bottom club immediately being relegated, things could have been massively different.

For instance, how about that bastion of good football, producing young talent, and punching above their weight? Crewe Alexandra may be a neutral's favourite, but no club has finished bottom of the Football League more often.

On eight occasions, Alex have finished propping everyone else up. Most recently in 1984, when they survived re-election and temporarily denied Maidstone United a place in the Football League.

Had they slipped down in '84 - the first season under the management of one Dario Gradi - what would have happened to the conveyor belt of talent that produced the likes of David Platt, Danny Murphy, and Robbie Savage?

The Cheshire club may never have enjoyed the success they did in competing in the second tier for a number of years had they lost any one of their re-election votes.

It's also unlikely the term the 'Rochdale Division' would ever have entered the footballing lexicon had Dale lost one of a number of re-election votes they had to endure.

Most notably, just one vote saw them survive the drop in 1980 at the expense of the aforementioned Altrincham. Even in 1978, it was Southport who took the drop at their expense when Wigan Athletic entered the Football League.

Dale spent 36 consecutive seasons in the basement division until promotion last term - nobody has spent a longer continuous spell in it.

They also hold the dubious record of having the lowest average position of all the continuous members of the Football League in the past 90 years. Crucially, though, because of their continued election victories, they are continuous.

However, had they slipped down into the Non Leagues, what would have happened to the Spotland outfit? With so many clubs surrounding them in Lancashire, how long would they have taken to return, if ever?

Fortunately, such questions are no longer restricted to the hypothetical. Common sense prevailed back in '87. The closed shop opened its doors - improved immeasurably for it - and has never looked back since.

It was 1987, truly a special year.

Big Match Review - Burton 1 Crewe 1

Burton Albion 1-1 Crewe Alexandra

Saturday September 18, Pirelli Stadium, (Att: 3,093)

It was honours even at the Pirelli Stadium as Burton Albion and Crewe Alexandra continued their solid starts to the season with a draw.

The Brewers were the brighter of the two sides early on and after, John McGrath forced Rhys Evans into a save, Richard Walker missed an easy chance from close range to put the hosts ahead.

Alex were then denied a goal by the linesman's flag after a free-kick had been headed in by Joel Grant from an offside position.

It was the home side who opened the scoring in fine style just before the break though.

Sloppy play in the Crewe midfield saw Jacques Maghoma unleashed to run at goal before sending an unstoppable drive high into the net from outside the box.

Paul Peschisolido's side were now on course for a third straight home win of the campaign, but the visitors stepped things up in the second half and Luke Murphy found a leveller just after the hour mark.

When Albion failed to clear a high cross from Clayton Donaldson, Murphy latched onto the ball and whipped a low shot in off the far post of Adam Legzdins's goal.

Both sides pressed in vain for a winner, but ultimately a point was enough to move Burton into the top seven, with Crewe hot on their heels in 9th.

Big Match Preview

Burton Albion vs. Crewe Alexandra

Saturday September 18, 15:00, Pirelli Stadium

Two sides who've made an encouraging start to the new season meet in Staffordshire this weekend as Burton Albion host Crewe Alexandra.

Both teams currently sit just outside the play off places in League Two after the opening half a dozen games.

Their current form also suggests that those in attendance at the Pirelli Stadium should be able to look forward to two sides who know how to find the back of the net.

Indeed, the Railwaymen are the top scorers in the division, with 14 goals already bagged in their six matches. Half of those were accrued in just one game, too, a 7-0 demolition of Barnet at Gresty Road.

Alex, with their veteran manager Dario Gradi back at the helm, also saw off Bury 3-0 last weekend in a performance of attacking and footballing verve that was their trademark for so many years under his stewardship.

They will hope to continue that form on Saturday as they go in seek of a first away victory of the campaign. So far a loss at Cheltenham has been accompanied by draws against Lincoln and new boys Stevenage.

Shaun Miller, with four goals to his name, has enjoyed a profitable start to the season up front for Crewe. He's joined by former York man Clayton Donaldson, who has bagged himself a couple of goals.

Summer signing from Morecambe, defender Dave Artell, has also scored two for his new side, and is a threat from set pieces.

Paul Peschisolido is in his second season in charge at Burton Albion

It's something Burton will need to be aware of as the home team look to maintain their unbeaten home record so far this season.

The Brewers have already beaten Morecambe and Hereford on home soil, scoring three goals on both occasions. They were also held to an opening day 0-0 stalemate against Oxford.

They also drew last weekend, but in contrasting style. After finding themselves 3-0 down at the break away at Rotherham, Paul Peschisolido's men engineered a stunning comeback in the second period to level matters 3-3.

Instrumental to that fightback was striker Shaun Harrad - who grabbed a hat trick to take his tally for the season to six goals in all competitions.

His partnership up front with Greg Pearson will once again be key to Albion - now in their second season as a Football League club.

This should be a highly entertaining game, with two sides who like to play good football and approach matches with the intention of going for the win.

Both sides should be full of confidence, too. Home advantage might just swing it the Brewers way though as they continue their fine start to the season.

Nobes' Prediction: Burton Albion 2 Crewe Alexandra 1

Big Match Review - Bradford 2 Crewe 3

League Two

Bradford City 2-3 Crewe Alexandra

Saturday October 10, Valley Parade, Att: 11,757

Calvin Zola scored twice as Crewe upset the form book to end their run of five straight defeats and inflict a first defeat in nine matches on Bradford City in an entertaining affair at Valley Parade.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Zola found the back of the net in spectacular style after just eight minutes. The forward latching onto a throw-in down the line to smash the ball over Bantams 'keeper Simon Eastwood and into the net from an acute angle.

Alex were on top and could have doubled their advantage after a quick breakaway unleashed Joel Grant. However, his mazy run ended in a shot which struck Eastwood's upright and rebounded to safety.

Dario Gradi's side weren't to be denied a second though. Zola again, this time with a sweeping finish from outside the box, after some careless defending from the home side.

Bradford hit back though, and were unlucky not to score when Michael Boulding's close range drive rattled off the crossbar. However, the same man helped bring City back into the match just before the break. A header from Chris Brandon's cross reducing the deficit.

Just after the hour mark though, Crewe had restored their two-goal advantage. Steven Schumacher, playing against his former club, with a long-range effort that bounced past the despairing dive of Eastwood.

Stuart McCall's side responded almost immediately. Boulding turned provider for James Hanson to acrobatically volley Bradford back into contention with twenty minutes remaining.

However, despite plenty of late pressure, City failed to find an equaliser leaving Crewe to take all three points back home to Cheshire.

Big Match Preview

League Two

Bradford City vs. Crewe Alexandra

Saturday October 10, 15:00, Valley Parade

As recently as 2002, Dario Gradi's Crewe faced up to a Bradford side including Stuart McCall in the Championship. Seven years later, and the pair meet in the dugout in the basement division as the Alex make the trip to West Yorkshire.

For the visitors, Gradi has returned as manager in a temporary capacity after the sacking of Gudjon Thordarson. Four successive losses spelled the end for the Icelander, and 68-year-old Gradi has stepped into the breach.

His first game, a 3-2 defeat to Rotherham last week, continued what's been a disappointing start to the season for the Railwaymen, relegated from League One last May.

Defensive frailties have been at the heart of Crewe's troubles. Fifteen goals have been leaked in the last five games and Gradi has been busy in the transfer market strengthening his backline with the signing of Carl Martin from Non-League Wealdstone.

Currently languishing in 17th, the Cheshire club were expected to challenge for the top-seven, and with the strike power of Calvin Zola and Joel Grant, who have notched up nine goals between them so far, they have goals in the side if they can stop conceding at the other end.

And Alex have already recorded two wins on the road this season, at Darlington and Grimsby, so will go to Bradford hopeful of getting some kind of result.

However, Stuart McCall's hosts are on a strong run and looking to extend their unbeaten record in League Two to nine games.

Stuart McCall is in his third season in charge at Valley Parade

It follows what had been a slow start to the season for the Bantams. An opening day 5-0 defeat at Notts County was the first of three games where City failed to find the back of the net.

Then, an extraordinary 5-4 win at Cheltenham began an upturn in fortunes which has taken the club through to the third round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and secured impressive wins over high-flyers Rochdale, Shrewsbury, and Chesterfield.

Currently lying 9th in the League Two standings, leading lights in the team include midfielders Michael Flynn and Chris Brandon, who have both scored three goals this season, and strikers Gareth Evans and Michael Boulding.

It's a clash therefore between two teams on contrasting runs and with varying degrees of confidence. Gradi should transform Crewe's fortunes, and must look to plug holes at the back.

A trip to in-form Bradford probably wouldn't have been his choice of fixture to turn things around in though, and all three points should remain at Valley Parade after this particular game.

Nobes' Prediction: Bradford City 2 Crewe Alexandra 1

Crewe have trouble finding Mr Right

Crewe Alexandra are known as the Railwaymen, but after 24 years of management under Dario Gradi, it's been more a case of London Buses with two managers coming and going in under two seasons.

Friday's sacking of Gudjon Thordarson with the Cheshire outfit languishing 15th in League Two wasn't particularly surprising.

Four straight league defeats for a side expected to challenge for promotion always left the 54-year-old under pressure.

Unfortunately for the man from Iceland, the harsh reality is that Alex fans have very quickly turned cold towards him.

Brought in at the end of last year with the club staring relegation from League One in the face, the former Stoke boss helped engineer a remarkable recovery, appearing to have saved them.

However, a poor end to the season, where they failed to win in their last 10 games, condemned them to relegation to the bottom tier for the first time in 15 years.

The fact that Thordarson's reign had seen the club move away from the footballing principles instilled by Gradi in favour of a long-ball approach always left him open to criticism.

Fine when the side were battling against the drop, fine even when Alex won four of their first six League games this term. However, when hopeful percentage balls are being played in defeat after defeat, and patience was never likely to last.

Crewe's problem stretches deeper than Thordarson however. After such an unprecedented tenure under one manager, everyone at the club is having to adapt to the reality of 21st century football. Time and patience is at a premium. Instant results are the order of the day.

Thordarson was in charge at Crewe for just nine months

They're also suffering from being spoiled under Gradi. They punched above their weight by staying in the second tier for so long, and were always treated to attractive football to watch, even if the team lost more than it won.

They are discovering that replacing a long-standing manager is even more difficult than they ever imagined it could be. Crewe and Gradi are synonymous with one another. However, is that part of the problem?

After 'moving upstairs' to accomodate his successor, Steve Holland, Gradi returned as caretaker before Thordarson's arrival. Similarly, he will take charge of tomorrow's game against Rotherham and remain at the helm until a new manager is found.

It would be churlish not to recognise that someone of his experience and wealth of knowledge can only be beneficial to a club who have survived and prospered off the back of their successful Academy system.

However, does Gradi's prescene have an unwitting negative effect on the actual first team manager?

Does any manager really want a club legend lurking in the shadows, knowing if he fails to succeed supporters will be clamouring for the former manager to return as caretaker - again?

The appointment of Holland was the club's hope to begin a new era - a young manager, well versed in the Crewe way, who would remain at the club and help keep the conveyor belt of talent going.

Thordarson's arrival smacked of a short-term measure to help them stay up, going against everything the club stood for.

The club must not be put off by the failure of the Holland experiment though. It was the right decision in all but the man they actually chose. Too often a coach cannot make the tranisition into being a manager.

Now Crewe must look for a young manager who has already shown his capability in the lower divisions. Somebody who can get the team playing the kind of football the fans expect. Somebody who will be willing to commit to creating the kind of dynasty and stability Gradi brought to Cheshire.

The sort of thing Accrington's John Coleman has done at Stanley for the last decade. The Liverpudlian ticks all the boxes Crewe need.

With the reality too that he has taken the Lancashire club, who are struggling financially, as far as he can, perhaps he requires a fresh challenge. Whether he would leave them in their hour of need is unclear however.

If so, Crewe should have in on the first train down.

Nobes.