Crewe Beat Strong Birmingham Side

Goals from Schumacher, an own goal (credited to Elding at the game), Grant and Mitchel-King gave Crewe a confidence boosting win over Birmingham City who took the lead through James McFadden.

A dire first half saw the Crewe riddled with errors and mistakes which in the end gifted McFadden with an easy goal past Button. Schumacher netted just before half time with a peach of a goal, slammed hard past Birmingham keeper Joe Hart. That was all that was worth mentioning from the first half really. Crewe were poor, and resulted to the long ball game to Zola. Enough said.

The second half was completely different though. The game really opened up and saw some good movement from the Alex boys. The own goal came quickly into the second half, I have no idea why it was credited to Elding though. It was as blatent an own goal I've ever seen.

Grant and Mitchel-King then scored to finish an excellent second half, leaving the Crewe defence and keeper with little to do.

The win will certainly give confidence to Gudjon's team going into the new season.

Worryingly, the word that most Crewe fans will be thinking at this moment in time is Hull!

Final score:

Crewe Alexandra 4 - Birmingham City 1

Crewe Starting XI

David Button
John Brayford
Billy Jones
Steven Schumacher
Danny O'Donnell
Patrick Ada
Clayton Donaldson
Anthony Elding
Calvin Zola
Joel Grant
Mat Mitchel-King

Birmingham City Starting XI

Joe Hart
Stephen Carr
Stuart Parnaby
Roger Johnson
Frank Quedrue
James McFadden
Damien Johnson
Barry Ferguson
Keith Fahey
Gary O'Connor
Cameron Jerome

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