MATCHDAY LIVE: Crewe Alexandra v Swindon Town (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

11:14pm

Right then all, that's just about it from the two of us as we hurtle back down the M6 to Wiltshire.

A disappointing evening for Swindon, who pushed hard for an equaliser that never arrived.

It wasn't a performance on a par with Preston away, Leyton Orient at home or Colchester at home but it's another defeat.

Stevenage await on Saturday - and my have they started the season well.

It'll be another difficult afternoon for Swindon, and you'll be able to keep up to date with all of it with us here on Matchday Live.

Until then, goodnight.

11:10pm

Crewe boss Steve Davis believes his side deserved their victory this evening, even if they had to hang on at the end.

STEVE DAVIS

"It was a great night and a great three points, and you have to work hard for any three points in this division.

"We put our bodies on the line at the end, and we knew they were going to have a spell of real pressure.

"I didn't think it would be the whole of the seond half though.

"I think the only way they were going to score was from a cross, and that is why we put a centre half on to try and deal with that.

"We came back from going behind well, and we are very pleased.

"The lads were fantastic and showed real spirit and effort, and I think we deserved it in the end."

11:04pm

10:59pm

Youngster Miles Storey was happy to get a game for Town this evening, but was unhappy to end up on the losing side.

MILES STOREY

"It is always nice to play and I love to have a go, but it is about the team tonight and we are down about the result. We need to get our heads down and work hard ready for Saturday.

"After the game the manager said we were better in the second half and couldn't take their chances, so we just need to improve really.

"Swindon has always had good youth players, and the youth set up is good here so hopefully we can get a chance."

10:57pm

YOUR SAY

10:56pm

10:37pm

Paolo Di Canio once again bemoaned the club’s current transfer embargo, and suggested not being able to bring in players is causing him problems.

PAOLO DI CANIO

“Not only a striker, because we miss someone in the middle of the field that can create in the middle of the field.

“We pay the price, and not only for the embargo but the embargo counts for a lot, but also for the energy because I can’t sub so many players.

“Today I gave the opportunity to Ritchie to breath because in the last few games who did very bad and needed a rest, and Raffaele had a big chance and scored.

“This is the area where if you want to stay in a good position you have to score if you have the chance.

“At the end of the day we spent a lot of energy and created a lot, but I am not worried.
“We have to save the season but it is not easy if we don’t have many options.”

10:34pm

10:32pm

YOUR SAY

10:27pm

Town boss Paolo Di Canio has just spoken to the media, and singled out the performance of captain Alan McCormack for criticism.

ALAN MCCORMACK

“Once again we have to thank some of our players for the mistakes made, and this time it is the turn of Alan McCormack, my captain.

“He lost three balls in a row in one minute and gave them a chance to score a goal, and then in the second one he wanted to go out with a little flick and not kick the ball.

“Once again they should know what I want, but that is why we drop because this is the level.
“Macca is a big professional but before he joined us and won the league he played three anonymous seasons in League One, and this is the reality.

“We showed in the second half once again, but thanks to Macca for the mistakes to them for two goals, and thanks to the embargo because I was 45 minutes in the opponents’ box but couldn’t score.”

9:50pm

Enough to win more than one game!

9:45pm

Reaction to come here on Matchday Live, remember to keep your thoughts coming using the comment box below, or by tweeting using #stfcadver.

9:41pm

FULL-TIME Crewe Alexandra 2 Swindon Town 1

9:40pm

Miller fires over as Town's last chance comes and goes.

All over here, Town had the chances, but couldn't take them.

9:37pm

Town still pushing, but it doesn't look like it is going to be their night. Jon Guthrie on for Michael West for the hosts.

9:36pm

Four added minutes.

9:36pm

88 minutes: Play resumes after the injury break, and Roberts nods McEveley free, but the defender can only ease the ball into the arms of Martin. Plenty of stoppage time to come I would say.

9:32pm

84 minutes: Archibald-Henville is a little late on Ellis, but the Crewe defender is in agony, Di Canio bites as the Crewe fans look to wind him up. Troy is booked.

9:27pm

79 minutes: Storey gets clear down the right, but slices his effort badly wide.

9:26pm

77 minutes: Ritchie has a shot blocked. So many chances!.

9:24pm

76 minutes: Troy Archibald Henville heads over from a Ritchie corner.

9:22pm

74 minutes: Ritchie sees one effort blocked, then another flies wide.

9:20pm

Town enjoying a good spell of pressure now, but they really need to make it count.

9:17pm

SUBSTITUTION

Adam Dugdale on for Chuks Aneke for the hosts

9:17pm

70 minutes: First Devera, and then Roberts force saves from Martin. Town applying a bit of pressure now.

9:16pm

68 minutes: Town wake from their slumber as Roberts fires a very deep cross into the box, but Ritchie arrives too quickly and can’t get his body in the right position and heads over.

9:11pm

63 minutes: Crewe force a succession of corners, but Town are able to clear.

9:07pm

59 minutes: Roberts chests the ball down and shoots, but he is denied by a superb save by Martin.

9:01pm

Storey's pace could really add something here, but only if he can support Collins better than Rooney did.

9:00pm

SUBSTITUTION

Storey does replace Rooney, and a few seconds later Matt Ritchie is on for De Vita

8:58pm

Miles Storey stripping off on the touchline, he will be on for Rooney any second.

8:56pm

49 minutes: Devera’s cross is tipped onto the bar by Alan Martin, and De Vita heads straight at the keeper as he follows up.

8:53pm

Paolo Di Canio has removed his red coat

8:51pm

De Vita and Roberts have swapped sides.

8:50pm

And we are underway again.

8:50pm

Both teams back on the pitch, and Abdul Osman is replaced by Oliver Turton for the home side. No changes for Town.

8:46pm

ADVER CHIEF SPORTS WRITER SAM MORSHEAD: "It looked so promising when Raffa De Vita nodded Town in front but there's been a lack of conviction and fragility in defence since.

"Possession was gifted to Crewe in the build-up to their equaliser and Byron Moore had the freedom of Cheshire to saunter into the penalty area before chipping home the hosts' second.

SAM MORSHEAD

"Going forward, Swindon have been okay but nothing more, with Adam Rooney largely anonymous and Gary Roberts struggling to make an impact.

"Let's hope things change after the break. It's not been great but it's not been awful."

8:46pm

Town still sixth in the League One table as things stand

8:45pm

HALF-TIME STATS

SHOTS: Crewe 4 Swindon 5

SHOTS ON TARGET: Crewe 3 Swindon 2

CORNERS: Crewe 3 Swindon 1

FOULS: Crewe 2 Swindon 7

8:41pm

YOUR SAY

8:41pm

LEAGUE ONE HALF-TIMES: Brentford 1-1 Coventry; Bury 1-0 Hartlepool; Carlisle 0-0 Oldham; Crawley 1-0 MK Dons; Crewe 2-1 Swindon; Leyton Orient 0-1 Colchester; Notts County 2-0 Bournemouth; Scunthorpe 1-3 Preston; Sheff Utd 1-0 Walsall; Shrewsbury 0-1 Yeovil; Stevenage 1-0 Portsmouth; Tranmere 0-0 Doncaster.

8:41pm

8:40pm

YOUR SAY

8:34pm

HALF-TIME: Crewe Alexandra 2 Swindon Town 1

8:34pm

45 minutes: Collins fires into Crewe defender Mark Ellis after both De Vita and McEveley fired in two crosses.

8:24pm

35 minutes: Aneke forces a good save from Foderingham low to his left, and the keeper is at it again seconds later to deny Kelvin Mellor.

8:22pm

Attendance is 4,010, with 273 from Swindon.

8:10pm

20 minutes: Foderingham fires his clearance against Chucks Aneke just as he did at Preston, but this time gets away with it as it falls safe.

8:06pm

17 minutes: McEveley rampages down the left and drills over a cross, by Collins can only glance his header across the face of goal and wide.

8:02pm

13 minutes: Town win a corner down the left which De Vita takes short to McEveley, and the full-back’s cross finds Rooney who heads wide.

8:01pm

11 minutes: Luke Murphy fires a shot very high over the bar.

7:57pm

Eight minutes: Town break down the right after good work from Ferry and De Vita, but the move ends as Devera fouls Matt Tootle.

7:54pm

Five minutes: A blatant handball in the centre circle by Alan McCormack allows the home side to come forward, and they eventually win a corner which comes to nothing.

7:50pm

A bit of a scrappy one here so far, no chances, and all the play in midfield

7:48pm

Underway here at Gresty Road

7:46pm

Both teams go into pre-match huddles, and we are good to go.

7:44pm

Here come the teams! Town in blue and yellow this evening, so let's hope for a repeat of the last time they wore it. What a night that 4-3 win at Stoke was!

7:42pm

The main stand here at Gresty Road is where the vast majority of the home fans are gathered, with the two stand behind the goals looking all-but empty. Around 300 Town fans gathered in the superbly names Ice Cream Van stand opposite us.

7:39pm

With five minutes remaining until kick-off, here's a quick reminder of how we are allowed to cover Swindon Town games on the Advertiser website.

Due to restrictions imposed on journalists by Dataco, we are unable to give up-to-the-second commentary of events at the County Ground.

Updates are subject to a three-minute delay under the terms of these restrictions.

If you want full text commentary of the game, log onto Twitter and follow Adver chief sports writer Sam Morshead (@SamMorshead_SA).

Updates will appear on Matchday Live but will be on a three-minute delay.

7:39pm

FUN FACTS

A new little feature for Matchday Live, where we dig deep into the world of the opposition - or lightly skim off the surface.

So DID YOU KNOW...

• Bruce Grobelaar, he of shaking knees fame, once scored for Crewe against York.

Amazing!

• David Platt, who started his career at Crewe, amassed a staggering £22.15million in cumulative trasnfer fees over the course of his career.

That's enough to buy Lionel Messi's left earlobe.

• The highest attendance at Gresty Road is 20,000 for an FA Cup foruth-round game against Spurs in January 1960.

The highest fans this year are the members of the press - lodged right at the back of a very high stand on one side. Certain hacks are suffering a bout of vertigo!

7:35pm

ON THIS DAY

Tuesday October 23 1935

Swindon beat Notts County 4-3 in the Division Three South Cup, with outside right Frank Peters scoring a hat-trick. Only 1,814 fans turned up for the contest, staged in the middle of the afternoon before the days of floodlights.

Saturday October 23 1993

COLIN CALDERWOOD

Former Robins skipper Colin Calderwood is given a superb reception when the two teams meet at White Hart Lane. Spurs took the lead trhrough Jason Dozzell, but Paul Bodin grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot.

PAUL BODIN

7:35pm

YOUR SAY

We're guessing that around 300 fans have travelled.

7:24pm

ADVER CHIEF SPORTS WRITER SAM MORSHEAD: "I've been told that Paul Benson is not suffering with any particular injury, so by that reasoning he's been dropped from the matchday squad."

7:22pm

YOUR SAY

7:21pm

YOUR SAY

Remember ‘Matchday Live’ is not just about us spouting nonsense for five hours at a time. It’s a forum for Swindon Town fans’ views on everything going on at SN1 at present.

Whether it’s Paolo Di Canio’s team selection or nightmare trips up the M6, we want to hear from you.

And there are plenty of ways to get involved over the course of the evening – all of which are conveniently listed below.

l Twitter – if you’re Tweet-friendly then use the hashtag #stfcadver to have your say, and follow chief sports writer Sam Morshead (@SamMorshead_SA) throughout the game for up-to-the-second commentary.

l Comment – the box below is ready for use. If the comments are sensible and clean then they may well find themselves inserted into the live blog later in the evening.

l Email – you can always pop us an email, just send your ramblings across to smorshead@swindonadvertiser.co.uk

Get involved!

7:20pm

Predictions are flooding in on Twitter:

7:19pm

Sir William Patey has echoed his predecessor Jeremy Wray in suggesting that Swindon Town’s holding company could be restructured to accommodate new investment.

In an exclusive interview with the Advertiser last week, Wray hinted that Swindon Football Holdings Limited could face a wholesale reshuffle as several investors distance themselves from the project.

And, speaking to the local media on Saturday, new Town chairman Patey took a similar stance.

He told the Adver: “I’m not going to go into personal detail but there are basically three major owners of the holding company. Sir Martyn Arbib is one, Andrew Fitton is another and Andrew Black is the third.

SIR WILLIAM PATEY AT THE COUNTY GROUND ON SATURDAY

“In a sense I would say to all three of them that the debt has very little value and would only have value if the club was successful. The club can’t be successful unless it attracts investment and so there has to be a balance there.

“They got into this because they were interested in the club. If you’re interested in the club there’s an opportunity there to do something substantive.

“You can convert some of that debt back into shareholdings so there are different ways you can do that so that if the club is successful you don’t lose out.

FORMER TOWN CHAIRMAN JEREMY WRAY

“There are ways of restructuring.

“We need to address this issue. I have to persuade people, I have to manage this, but it involves other people taking decisions.

“I will work with whatever hand I’ve got. If the status quo is what I’ve got, I’ll work with the status quo. It doesn’t mean to say that the three-year plan is out the window. The three-year plan is there under the existing structure.

“It will be more difficult to get out of the embargo but I’ll work with whatever hand I’ve got. I’m an amateur poker player so I’ll work with the hand I’m dealt.”

READ MORE FROM WRAY AND PATEY BY CLICKING ON THEIR PICTURES.

7:17pm

Crewe has also been the place where a number of players have reignited their careers after being released by bigger clubs, with many going onto bigger and better things after their time in Cheshire.

DAVID PLATT

Platt made 134 appearances for the club having progressed through the youth system after his early release from Manchester United. He was eventually sold to Aston Villa, and went on to captain England. Platt totalled more than £20million in transfer fees during his career.

ROBBIE SAVAGE

Like Platt, Savage started off at Manchester United before being released and being picked up by the Alex. The Welshman moved on to Leicester City where he made his name following 77 appearances at Gresty Road, and has since played for Birmingham, Blackburn and Derby before retiring.

NEIL LENNON

The Celtic boss started at Glenavon in his homeland, and played once for Manchester City before moving to Crewe and playing 147 times. He starred for Leicester and Celtic before retiring and moving into management with the Bhoys.

7:14pm

YOUR SAY

It will depend on the nature of the agreements reached between clubs like Burton and Stevenage and Town. I will endeavour to find out for you.

7:12pm

Swindon Town must become more ruthless on home turf if they are to realise their targets for the 2012/13 campaign, according to Simon Ferry.

The midfielder agreed that it was a case of two points dropped rather than a point gained following Town’s 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe on Saturday and, after disappointing results against Colchester, Leyton Orient and Coventry in recent weeks, a lack of conviction at the County Ground is becoming a worrying character trait for the Robins.

MICHAEL ROSE CELEBRATES NETTING THE WINNER FOR COLCHESTER AT THE COUNTY GROUND

He stressed that home wins are essential if Swindon realistically covert promotion from League One this term.

He said: “It’s not good enough to be honest, not to get a win in our last three home games isn’t good enough.

SIMON FERRY

“We want to be up the top of the table and results like that are not going to get us there.

“We cannot keep not winning our home games, we need to start winning these games. We’ve got aspirations to win this league and that’s not good enough if we’re going to do it.

“It seems like every time we make a mistake we get punished for it but we need to work hard and turn that around.

SIMON FERRY IN ACTION DURING HIS FIRST SEASON IN WILTSHIRE

“The only way it’s going to turn around is if we work hard and that’s what we have to do.

“There shouldn’t be any pressure to be honest. We know how good we can be so it’s up to us to be better at home. We should be more relaxed at home if anything, there shouldn’t be pressure on us.

“We’ve not taken our chances in a number of games and they have.”

After a fortnight without a midweek outing, Town return to the rigours of two-match weeks with a visit to Crewe on Tuesday night followed by the trip to Stevenage next Saturday.

However, Ferry insisted it does not matter how thick and fast the matches come, the Swindon squad will be ready.

He said: “That’s what League One is and that’s what League Two was last year, we know what to expect.

“We’ve had a hard pre-season and that’s what we’ve done it for so bring those games on and hopefully we can win a few.”

7:12pm

CREWE’S FAMOUS ACADEMY
Crewe have always been a well-run club which lives within its means, and under the guidance of Dario Gradi, the club’s famous academy has produced the majority of its star players.

DANNY MURPHY

The midfielder came through the ranks at Gresty Road and made 132 appearances before making the move to Liverpool, earning Crewe £1.5million. Anfield was where he rose to the attention of many, and in his pomp was one of the best midfielders in the country. Still plying his trade in the Premier League with Fulham.

SETH JOHNSON

Johnson bossed the Crewe midfield from 1996 to 1999, after which he made the move to Derby for £3million. He later moved to Leeds for £9million, with a healthy sell-on fee going to the Railwaymen. His career was blighted by injury from that point onwards though, and he was forced to retire in 2007.

DEAN ASHTON

The striker was prolific as a youngster, banging in 61 goals in 159 games as he formed a superb partnership with Rob Hulse. Norwich came calling and Crewe banked another £3million, but he was not at Carrow Road long before he was snapped up by West Ham for £7million. He excelled at Upton Park as he pushed himself into the England reckoning before cruelly seeing his career cut short by and ankle injury.

NICK POWELL

The latest departure from Gresty Road netted the club £6million when he moved to Manchester United in the summer. Powell scored the winner in the League Two play-off final as Crewe sealed promotion in May. The midfielder has already appeared for the Red Devils, and is predicted to have a bright future by Sir Alex Ferguson.

7:08pm

YOUR SAY

7:08pm

7:07pm

YOUR SAY

7:05pm

Home boss Steve Davis knows his side are going to facing a side operating at the other end of the financial scale to Crewe.

CREWE BOSS STEVE DAVIS

"They are going well, one of the quality teams in the league. It is a challenge for us to get something, and we have to be getting something at home.

"Di Canio has the budget he needs. He targeted several players in the summer and got them, the wages won't have been a problem.

"That is where they are, they were one of the main teams last season whereas we snuck into the play-offs. I still feel there is a gap between us and them. But in time you hope we can bridge that gap with our own players.

"We are not the type of club who are going to bring in a lot of players because we can't afford it.

"He has a good team, and he improved from the one that dominated League Two.

"It is a tough challenge but we overcame that challenge at home last season and there is no reason we can't do that again. We will be the underdogs for at least 75 per cent of our games this season.

"Di Canio is a very passionate guy who loves his football and wants the best for himself and his team. That is what I want, I want my team to mirror me and I am always disappointed when they don't."

7:02pm

7:01pm

YOUR SAY

6:59pm

HISTORY BOOKS

The last time Swindon Town visited Crewe it quickly became a forgettable occasion for the travelling Robins.

NICK POWELL

Nick Powell and Ashley Westwood scored the goals that secured Alex a 2-0 win.

Click on Powell's picture to see Adver sports writer Ned Payne's match report from the game.

6:57pm

Paolo Di Canio has spoken this week about the performance of Aden Flint and his red card against Scunthorpe.

Here is what he had to say...

“Flint is a good guy and a genuine guy but when people speak and say ‘why do you not play Flint?’ wyou would think we have a Pique. It’s Aden Flint.

“Last year he became one of the protagonists with the club to win League Two. Previously he had played one game in League One and played only in Blue Conference.

“There is a limit for every player in the world.

“Already he has done a fantastic achievement because he gave his availbility to me to work with him. The last 10 per cent is not a small step, it’s not the same job, it takes longer.

PAOLO DI CANIO

“The last 10 per cent makes you top for this level. When he makes the two individual mistakes that are completely against my pillars that we talk about every day, every moment.

“Before the game I never forget to tell my players since the first day I met them ‘not one of my players has to dive or tackle from the ground in a game, even if it is the last chance in the world to do something because if you stay on your feet you can always do something.

“Never even in desperation do it. Imagine the middle of the field, stay on your opponent’s back.

ADEN FLINT

“It means his interpretation of these situations was the opposite we do in every single session. I’m talking about this so people can see that the level is the level.

“Flint is good to maintain top 12 or 13, now we are top six and he makes two mistakes that put the game in trouble."

6:54pm

Aaron Oakley will be wearing the number 31 this evening.

6:54pm

ADVER CHIEF SPORTS WRITER SAM MORSHEAD: "Great to see Aaron Oakley, Miles Storey, Louis Thompson and Leigh Bedwell - all products of the Swindon Town youth system - on the bench this evening.

"Credit should go to Paul Bodin and Jeremy Newton for the extraordinary work they put in behind the scenes at the County Ground.

"While I appreciate injuries and suspensions have contributed to all of them being involved, it is still a significant step for the club."

6:47pm

Paolo Di Canio came out of self-enforced silence yesterday to give the local media an honest assessment of Town's chances of keeping pace at the top of League One.

Here is what he had to say...

“Because at the moment we are under embargo and we have now six players with injuries. Bessone is out for one month, Nathan Thompson is out for we don’t know how long with an ankle injury.

“To think that we are in the play-offs, we have done an incredible job.

“We have got three points more than we had after the same number of games last year but we were in League Two now we are in League One.

“We know in the future it will be very difficult to keep the position, we have to be realistic. It will be difficult to maintain the same position.

PAOLO DI CANIO

“Or we can be middle table, which is probably the position that belongs to us more realistically.

“We can suffer, get points and if we can keep the same position or top eight or top 10 it would be amazing.

“At the moment, if we play badly we lose and if we play very well and create lots of chances we draw, so it would be very difficult to stay there. Our position is middle table."

6:45pm

We're hearing that Swindon Town's Welsh Under 19 internationals, Louis Thompson and Aaron Oakley, have both travelled to Gresty Road with the first-team squad this evening.

6:44pm

TEAM NEWS

Nothing official as yet but here's a rundown of the runners and riders this evening.

Definitely out are Nathan Thompson (ankle), Federico Bessone (calf), Aden Flint (suspended) and Giles Coke (foot), while Alan Navarro and Andy Williams are set to return to the UK this evening following a period working with a specialist in Rome on their respective knee and calf problems.

NATHAN THOMPSON LIMPS OFF ON SATURDAY

It could mean Alan McCormack shifting to right-back this evening, while John Bostock could be in line for a recall up front.

6:39pm

YOUR SAY

Remember ‘Matchday Live’ is not just about us spouting nonsense for five hours at a time. It’s a forum for Swindon Town fans’ views on everything going on at SN1 at present.

Whether it’s Paolo Di Canio’s team selection or lukewarm coffee in the Don Rogers, we want to hear from you.

And there are plenty of ways to get involved over the course of the evening – all of which are conveniently listed below.

l Twitter – if you’re Tweet-friendly then use the hashtag #stfcadver to have your say, and follow chief sports writer Sam Morshead (@SamMorshead_SA) throughout the game for up-to-the-second commentary.

l Comment – the box below is ready for use. If the comments are sensible and clean then they may well find themselves inserted into the live blog later in the evening.

l Email – you can always pop us an email, just send your ramblings across to smorshead@swindonadvertiser.co.uk

Get involved!

6:38pm

Good evening and welcome to Gresty Road for Swindon Town's League One clash with Crewe Alexandra.

Town havewon their last three games on the road and qill be looking to make it four at a ground where traditionally they have not had much success down the years.

Nursing a number of injuries, the Swindon squad is fairly depleted and it will be a tough ask to secure all three points in Cheshire.

Stay with us for all the build-up to tonight's game, followed by match updates and reaction.

3:42pm

Join Sam Morshead and Andy Warren from 6.30pm for all the best build-up to tonight's League One game, followed by match updates and reaction