Exiled Bull gives his views on the Gresty Road experience:
Hereford deservedly picked up all three points in Crewe today for the first time in a couple of decades. They had greater levels of organisation, enthusiasm and passion. Stand out players were new boy Colbeck and the Beast. Both had pace, were willing to run at players and generally worried the opposition.
The whole side must have been uplifted by the belligerent backing from the away end. Excitement and passion for United followers has been a long time coming and it felt mighty good to sound like a home team. You might say its full steam ahead for the Bulls.
The focal player is not O’Neill Thompson who quietly contributed well but made some shocking passes but rather Jan Kovacs. His fist pumping eye bulging exhortations were very well received. We ain’t used to such naked passion in the Shire.
Judging by the proliferation of advertising boards around their ground, Alex followers have a keen almost unhealthy interest in animal feed. Maybe if they’d offered a free bag with every season ticket sold, the take-up rate would have been far higher?
They were also close to witnessing the first ever on-field birth as one of the two girls who walked around the pitch with the winning draw number board was very very pregnant indeed. Still there were probably a few stockmen in the away end that would happily assist. “Oooh arr, have ‘er out in a jiffy, oi will” Fortunately their abilities weren’t needed and in the end they had to make do with an inflatable cow being waved in the away end
On pitch birth is a little irregular but after all what would one more health and safety breach matter after the heinous crimes committed in both home and away seating areas? Supporters standing in seated areas – action sufficient in the Premier League to promote apoplexy and dire warnings of derailment, instant death or closed stands. It’s extraordinary that everyone in the stadium managed to get out alive.
What of Crewe 2010 in general? Although he took his bus pass five years ago Dario is back presumably to put his club back on the rails. He has a long way to travel. Albeit based on just one game, Crewe lack concentration and will to win. They are really up the junction. Maintaining their much fabled Academy must be a massive drain on club resources as they cost a minimum of £1 million per year to run. Selling two players to Derby recently gave them breathing space but how long can a pensioner keep the production line running?
Presumably Dario is on a mission to right a wrong. Remember our visit in 2008? Crewe and Hereford were locked in a grim third tier relegation battle. The Alex had sold their purist traditions down the river and played the sort of ugly football loved by their neighbours Stoke. It was vile to watch and although Crewe bullied Hereford into defeat, other sides were not so malleable and the Railwaymen were duly relegated a little further down the track. Up in the boardroom platform Dario must have been fuming. All those class players with classy passing football gone and replaced with an ugly mess. Gradi blew the whistle on his successors and is now intent on re-stoking his club himself. You might say he’s put his reputation on the line. For the Alex it will be a long way back. They had their first half moments today but the longer the game went on the clearer the signal it became that was only going to be one winner.
For Hereford it’s a green flag as the dream is still alive. There is still much to work on. The defence needs to be tighter more often, more concentration is needed throughout the team and will the forwards score enough goals? But right now let’s enjoy the moment and our Play Off position. There will be ample time for moans and groans later.