Huddersfield 1-1 Crewe

Crewe`s long search for a win, particularly away from home, was once again in vain as they could only manage a draw away to Huddersfield despite leading until the 85th minute.

Brave Alex fans made the Boxing Day journey to Huddersfield very much more in hope than expectation after a 4-0 thrashing from Town`s Yorkshire rivals Doncaster the previous Saturday.

Crewe welcomed back Mark Carrington, Ben Rix and Byron Moore to the midfield and in the first half the team played some of their best football of the season, controlling the majority of the play.

In the 19th minute the returning Carrington played a defence splitting ball over the top for Lee Barnard to expertly beat the offside trap and poke the ball home after beating Huddersfield goalkeeper Matt Glennon in a race after it had dropped.

The Alex continued to pass the ball around well and although created few chances, they soaked up the obvious long ball game that the home team were trying to enforce.

As is typical of Crewe of late though the second half was a complete contrast and although Huddersfield didn`t create an awful lot, Crewe stopped passing the ball and gradually retreated further and further into their own half.

It was clear Huddersfield were trying to put the ball on the head of striker Andy Booth as often as possible all afternoon and until the 85th minute this happened without much success.

With only five minutes for Crewe to hold on though a mix up in communication between Ben Williams and Chris McCready meant that McCready tried to head an innocuous looking through ball back to the goalkeeper but under pressure headed it out for a corner.

From the resulting corner Alex captain Julian Baudet lost his man, the man Huddersfield would want most on the end of the cross Andy Booth obliged, and he promptly headed the ball into the top corner.

In the remaining minutes Crewe came out of their shell again and started the free passing that had served them well in the first half, finishing the game on top and perhaps unlucky not to have regained the lead. If only they had continued with this positive attitude into the start of the second half the result surely wouldn`t have been in doubt.

A decent point for Crewe but definitely two points dropped in a game that was there for the taking and should have been signed sealed and delivered long before Booth`s equaliser.

It`s on to Millwall now for Steve Holland`s men and a very tough away day as Brighton just found out to their cost, losing 3-0.

Lee Barnard - Risked injury to score the opener in a cool fashion and was lively and energetic throughout. Was willing to come off his man to look for the ball at all times and formed a great understanding with fellow loanee and strike partner Simon Church. We should without doubt be trying to extend his loan deal come January.

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