Match Report: Notts County put to the sword by Crewe Alexandra

Notts County have suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night which knocked them off the top of League Two.

Putting in one of the worst performances of the season so far, the Magpies fell behind just before half time when Michael Raynes rattled home from close range after Eddie Nolan had headed George Cooper’s free kick across goal.

Crewe's win was sealed when, 66 minutes in, Jordan Bowery ran in behind to latch onto a pass from Cooper - the Notts defence caught napping once again - and steer past goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.

Kevin Nolan's rotated charges were on top for the opening exchanges but didn’t create any clear-cut chances - indeed it was the Alex who had the first true sight of goal on 14 minutes when Tom Lowery’s delivery was met by Raynes, but his header was well held by Fitzsimons.

The hosts began upping the ante as Cooper saw a long-range effort blocked by Carl Dickinson, while on the half-hour mark, Chris Porter raced onto a Bowery flick and lifted the ball over the keeper only for Elliott Hewitt to get back and clear the striker’s second effort off the line.

County's bid to get back into the changing rooms on level pegging suffered a blow in the 44th minute when Cooper’s free kick from deep was headed back by Raynes and Porter got a touch as the ball found its way back to the Alex captain, who fired home from close range.

Dickinson did come close to netting an equaliser early after the restart after Ryan Yates was brought down for a free kick around 30 yards out, but the 30-year-old's curling effort was tipped narrowly wide of the post by Crewe keeper Dave Richards.

On 57 minutes, the ignominious triple substitution was called upon by Nolan, with Jorge Grant, Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi replacing Jonathan Forte, Liam Walker and Terry Hawkridge on the Gresty Road pitch.

It made little difference, however, as nine minutes later, Crewe had doubled their lead through Bowery, whose run was spotted by Cooper, met with a through ball which sliced the Notts defence open, and the striker held off his marker and steered a volleyed finish past the onrushing Fitzsimons.

Notts attempted to find a way back but for all their efforts were unable to trouble Richards as the Railwaymen saw the game out with little difficulty and left the visitors heading back to the East Midlands empty-handed.

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