Stat Attack: Notts County hope to keep up good recent form against Crewe Alexandra

Head to head

Notts County have met Crewe Alexandra 45 times in their shared history.

Notts wins: 22
Draw: 9
Crewe wins: 14

Notts met Crewe for the first time at the Alexandra Recreation Ground in 1893, winning 2-0 in Division Two.

Notts have a great recent record against Crewe, losing only once in the last 14 meetings between the two clubs, stretching back to 2002.

Since 2002, they have won 9 games against Crewe, including doing the double over The Alex three times.

Last season Notts lost 2-0 at Gresty Road but in the return fixture, won 4-1 with Noor Husin scoring the goal of the season for 2017-18.

Stats

After nine games, Crewe are sat in 17th place with 8 points.

They have not scored away from home in the league this season and have just come off the back of a derby defeat to Port Vale.

Notts moved off the bottom of the table last weekend after the 0-0 draw with Northampton, keeping our first clean sheet since the opening day.

Notts are still winless but have made major improvements since Harry Kewell came in as manager.

Seasons in each division

First Division (or Prem): 0
Second Division (or Champ): 12
Third Division (or L1): 45
Fourth Division (or L2): 35

Crewe have also been in the Central League (6 seasons), Birmingham and District League (10 seasons) and the Lancashire League (3 seasons)

History

Crewe are famed for their youth policy with many players currently in the game or players that are retired, having come through the youth academy at Gresty Road. Notable players include Dean Ashton, Seth Johnson, Danny Murphy and David Platt.

Manager Dario Gradi became the longest serving manager in English Football during his 24 years stint at the club between 1983 and 2007.

The club was named after Alexandra of Denmark, Queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Empress of India as the wife of King Edward VII.

Team news

Nathan Thomas could return to action for Notts against Crewe after more than a month out injured.

The winger suffered a freak injury in the defeat to Newport when a stud went through his boot and into his foot, but has returned to action for the reserves during the week.

Cedric Evina, Elliot Ward and Jamie Turley are likely to keep their places at the back, but manager Harry Kewell accepts he needs to manage their playing time carefully due to a lack of match fitness.

Andy Kellett is hoping to make his own return, while Dan Jones returns after suspension, but Richard Duffy and Ben Hall are still expected to be unavailable.

Crewe boss David Artell may ring the changes as his side look to return to winning ways, while they have no suspensions to contend with.

The Alex suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Port Vale in their last League Two outing last weekend, while they also failed to get on the scoresheet in the previous Saturday's goalless draw at Cheltenham.

Artell has alternated his strike partnerships to see if he can formulate a more potent one due to the lack of recent goals.

Jordan Bowery partnered Chris Porter for the first time in the clash with Vale, but the boss may try another combination at County.

Defender Kevin O'Connor returned to the starting line-up in the midweek EFL Trophy defeat against Manchester City Under-21s following a heavy collision against Tranmere Rovers earlier this month and could continue in the back line.

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