Kane Hemmings’ double helped Crewe to a fourth consecutive win as they moved into the top seven with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Harrogate.
Jack Lankester followed up Hemmings’ early strike with his first goal for the Alex as they dominated throughout.
They started strongly, with Mickey Demetriou’s firm header hitting the crossbar from a corner from Joel Tabiner.
A fine piece of finishing from Hemmings edged Crewe ahead in the seventh minute with the veteran striker latching on to a pass from Lankester inside the box and driving a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Hemmings was inches away with an audacious effort from near the halfway line after goalkeeper James Belshaw’s headed clearance dropped into his path.
Harrogate were fortunate not to fall further behind when Ryan Cooney was slipped clear by Lankester, but the defender poked his effort wide of the near post.
It was no surprise when Lee Bell’s side doubled their lead, with summer signing Lankester going from provider to finisher by firing into the far corner for his first goal for the club after being set up by Conor Thomas.
As the half drew to a close, Toby Sims’ flicked header from a corner was kept out by Filip Marschall.
Opposite number Belshaw denied Lankester a second with a smart stop shortly after the restart and Tabiner drove a 20-yard effort just past a post after some industrious work from Shilow Tracey had the visitors backtracking.
The lacklustre Sulphurites struggled to pose any real threat, although substitute Warren Burrell was denied in the closing minutes by another fine stop from Marschall.
Hemmings then rounded off the afternoon with his second goal of the game, stretching to finish from close range in the 88th minute after Tracey’s initial effort was blocked.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
