Crewe Alexandra are part of a historic start to the League Two season, forming one of four clubs yet to taste defeat after seven matches. It is the first time in the history of English football's fourth tier that as many teams have avoided a loss in their opening seven games of a campaign.
Lee Bell's side have drawn five and won two of their fixtures, a run that has them sitting ninth in the table with 11 points. Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw at home to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, where Jordan Gibson's first-half goal was cancelled out before the break. That result extended their current sequence to five consecutive draws, a pattern of resilience that has defined their early season.
Tabiner's creative surge
A key contributor to that solid foundation is midfielder Joel Tabiner. The 22-year-old has provided three assists already this season, a figure that equals his total contribution from the entirety of the previous League Two campaign. He set up Gibson's opener against Shrewsbury and is now just one assist shy of his personal best for a league season, set in the 2023-24 term with four. His creative output is a significant positive for a team that has scored seven goals while conceding only five.
The unbeaten quartet
The historic company Crewe keep includes Barnet, Walsall, and Grimsby Town. Barnet lead the way at the top of the standings with four wins and three draws, putting them four points clear of Crewe. Walsall and Grimsby have identical records of three wins and four draws each. This collective durability at the start of the season is unprecedented for the division.
Contrasting fortunes are evident elsewhere in the league. Oldham Athletic have suffered eight defeats in their last twelve matches, a poor run that equals the number of losses they endured across their previous 35 League Two fixtures. Meanwhile, Colchester United have dropped nine points from winning positions this season, a vulnerability only exceeded by Newport County.
Looking ahead
Attention now turns to maintaining this unbeaten streak on the road. Crewe's next challenge is a trip to face Rotherham United, who are currently 14th in the table. The fixture at the New York Stadium represents an opportunity to convert draws into victories.
The team's current standing and recent form are detailed in the official standings. While the draws have built a platform, the focus will be on finding the wins to climb closer to the automatic promotion places, currently occupied by Barnet and Walsall. The squad, including top scorer J. March, will aim to turn their solid defensive record into three points in Yorkshire this weekend.
The report in full is at efl.com
