Crewe Alexandra delivered a commanding performance to defeat Aston Villa's under-21 side 4-1 in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening. The result at Gresty Road strengthens their position in Group North - 2 and provides a welcome boost ahead of a busy league schedule.
Lee Bell's side, sitting 9th in League Two on 11 points, took control of the match early. Luke Offord opened the scoring in the 31st minute, heading home from a Calum Agius corner. Adrien Thibaut doubled the advantage just before half-time, finishing a sharp move to put Crewe firmly in command.
Lankester leads the charge
Jack Lankester effectively sealed the points shortly after the restart, netting his first of the night in the 48th minute following good work from Stan Dancey. Aston Villa U21 pulled a goal back through Max Jenner with five minutes remaining, but Lankester had the final word, completing his brace two minutes later after being set up by substitute Jordan Gibson.
The manager made several changes throughout the match, with Patrick Mlynarski replacing the cautioned Owen Lunt in the first half. Ryan Chadwick, Joel Ewusi and Gibson were all introduced in the second period as Crewe managed their resources.
Statistically, Crewe were efficient despite seeing slightly less of the ball. They registered 14 shots with seven on target, forcing four saves from the Villa goalkeeper. They also won ten corners to Villa's four, underlining their attacking threat. The victory extends Crewe's recent form to just one loss in their last five matches across all competitions, a run the club will hope to continue. The focus now shifts to the league, where a trip to face Rotherham United awaits this Saturday. Bell will hope this performance can translate into three points on the road, a result that could see them climb the standings. The manager may also be considering his options from the full squad as he looks to build on this momentum.
Manager Lee Bell praised his side's professional approach following the 4-1 EFL Trophy victory over Aston Villa U21s on September 22. Bell said, "It was a professional performance and we managed the game well." The win extends Crewe's unbeaten run to five matches across all competitions, a sequence that includes four draws in League Two where they sit 9th on 11 points.
