Columnists

By Matt Owen

01/04/2008 - Fanzone: Waiting game for faithful

In winter-like conditions at the Bescot Stadium the Railwaymen were spraying the ball around with ease and were on top of their play-off chasing rivals.

At times during that match we played some excellent football, which left the majority wondering exactly why we are embroiled deep in a relegation battle.

Crewe could and should have killed Walsall off, but while the travelling fans shouted the Olé's and cheers with every completed pass you couldn't help thinking the game wasn't safe at 1-0 - after all this is Crewe.

So it proved to be, deep in to time added on. Psychology it felt like a defeat, the sheer dejection on the face of the players, management and fans was clear to see at the full-time whistle. With that win safety would have been almost assured.

Whether that result played on the minds of the players going in to the match at Luton - who knows?

It feels as if the momentum is slipping away and we must get back to winning ways soon.

Saturday's defeat at Luton reiterates what I was saying a couple of weeks ago, I said there maybe a twist in the run-in and this may be it, but I am still confident we have enough in the tank to stay up.

Just the five fixtures remain, three at home and two away. Two wins from five should be enough to ensure safety, but I can see us dragging this out to the last week or two of the season.

To lose at Luton was disappointing, that result now means we have lost to all of the bottom-four clubs in the league.

Our club has its critics, but at least we are not one of the teams dropping points through financial problems and it looks like by being financially prudent we may escape the dreaded drop.

Gillingham play their game in hand on Tuesday against Luton and hopefully the Hatters can do us a favour, as a win for Gillingham would crank up the pressure at the bottom..

Saturday's home match against promotion-chasing Southend is vital. I just hope former Crewe loan player Lee Barnard forgets to bring his shooting boots with him and we can get revenge for the 3-0 battering we took at Roots Hall back in October.

To lose Tom Pope (broken toe) is a blow as he was just starting to show what a decent player he can be at this level when he plays to his strengths. He equipped himself well in the draw at Walsall against two big powerful centre-halves and gave as good as he got.

His injury could rule him out for the rest of the season, but thankfully Dean Morgan has signed on until the end of the season. Likewise Steve Jones, who has joined from Burnley to get some competitive action.

Steve Holland must now work out the best formula for the remaining matches. He has the players to choose from and he must pick a side to win at least two of the last five if we are to have any hope of beating the drop.