Crewe maintained their formidable unbeaten start to the season, extending their streak to 11 matches following a tense 3-2 victory over Rochdale. While the home side ultimately secured all three points, the match served as a stark reminder of the challenges inherent in protecting a lead at this level.
The victory was spearheaded by a clinical performance from Jordan Gibson, who netted a brace, and a thumping long-range effort from Matus Holicek. The result leaves Crewe in a commanding position as they approach the club’s 150th anniversary in 2027, a milestone the manager acknowledged as a significant point of pride for his staff and players.
Crewe’s dominance was established within a frantic six-minute window before the interval. In the 39th minute, Holicek received a pass from Gibson and unleashed a powerful drive from outside the box; despite Sam Waller getting a hand to the ball, it had too much venom to be kept out. Shortly after, the momentum surged again when midfielder Owen Lunt—described by his manager as a “beast”—brushed aside Kaiden Wilson to square the ball for Gibson, who tapped in to double the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Gibson added his second and Crewe’s third ten minutes into the second half, seemingly putting the game to bed. However, Rochdale refused to roll over. The visitors, who entered the contest on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, clawed their way back into the match when a Glenn Middleton cross deflected off Joel Tabiner in the 65th minute. As the game entered its final stages, Aden Flint rose to head home a cross from substitute Ed Francis, setting up a nervy conclusion for the home faithful.
Reflecting on the match, the Crewe boss admitted that while the win was a “big achievement,” he was left wanting more control. “When you’re 3-0 at home, you do want it to be more comfortable than it was,” he noted, highlighting the difficulties in containing Rochdale’s physical presence, particularly after the introduction of Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. “I thought there were plenty of opportunities for us to score a couple more goals. I want us to be an attacking side who play on the front foot.”
For Rochdale manager Ian Watson, it was a frustrating afternoon defined by defensive lapses. “The frustrating thing was the way we conceded the goals—one from our set-piece and two from our corners,” Watson said. “We’d spoken about Crewe’s strength in the transition, but the players didn’t give up and the boys who came off the bench changed the dynamic.”
Despite the late scare, Crewe held firm to preserve their unbeaten status, moving forward with both a points advantage and a clear tactical identity.
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