Crewe slip to another defeat

It's now six games without a win for Crewe Alexandra after struggling visitors Oldham Athletic left with a well-deserved 2-0 victory at Gresty Road.

Substitute James Tarkowski headed them in front from Lee Croft's 61st minute corner and Matt Derbyshire forced in a second following Christian Montano's delivery with eleven minutes remaining.

Skipper Luke Murphy later struck the crossbar from a free-kick for the home side but that was in the final minute and the outcome was already virtually decided by then.

Earlier it took a great save from Alan Martin to keep out Croft after only a couple of minutes. He was also full-length to cover a low shot from Montano and then James Wesolowski.

Crewe's Harry Davis did find the base of an upright from Gregor Robertson's corner in reply while Derbyshire was ruled offside when netting from close-range after Martin blocked another effort from Croft.

The Scot also thwarted Montano following a loose pass from Mark Ellis before Jose Baxter was similarly denied by an offside flag after putting the ball in the net once again.

Still the opportunities continued for the visitors with Montano and Baxter both wide until Tarkowski found space to head beyond Martin and finally break the deadlock just past the hour.

Now chasing the game the Alex introduced substitute Max Clayton for Matt Tootle. But a weak clearance from Robertson eventually allowed Dean Furman to set up former England Under-21 striker Derbyshire for a second.

That was more or less game over despite skipper Murphy's late attempt as the home side slipped another three places in the table to eighteenth.

Crewe Alexandra: Martin, Mellor, Davis, Ellis, Robertson, Tootle (M. Clayton 61), Murphy, Bond, Aneke (Daniels 79), Leitch-Smith, Pogba

subs (unused): Garratt, Turton, Guthrie, Ray, Waters

Oldham Athletic: Bouzanis, Grounds, Mvoto (Tarkowski 44), Byrne, Wabara, Wesolowski, Croft, Furman, Montano, Derbyshire, Baxter (Simpson 68)

subs (unused): Cisak, Brown, M'changama, Hughes, Smith

Goals: Tarkowski (61), Derbyshire (79)

Ref: Haywood

Att: 3,935

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