West Brom came from behind to see off a stubborn Crewe side and go level on
points with First Division leaders Norwich, who were surprisingly beaten at
Cardiff earlier on Saturday.
Crewe striker Dean Ashton made the breakthrough just after the hour but a goal
from substitute Lee Hughes on 73 minutes completed a dramatic turn around and
sealed the points for Albion.
Ashton, last week's hat-trick hero for Crewe, was a constant pest for the
Albion defence while Geoff Horsfield should have scored long before Ashton's
opener.
Crewe had an early penalty shout turned down when striker Steve Jones appeared
to be tripped by Thomas Gaardsoe.
The visitors then began to take control with a period of sustained pressure.
Jason Koumas' cross-shot was almost turned in before two Horsfield efforts were
blocked.
But Alex showed they were up for the fight with Ashton twice going close.
First he turned Darren Moore on the edge of the box but shot straight at Russell
Hoult, then the Albion keeper denied Ashton again after 33 minutes, tipping his
angled drive from the right around the post.
Horsfield attacked once more, this time firing across Crewe keeper Clayton
Ince's goal and past the far post.
Steve Jones then had the best chance of the first-half after 40 minutes but he
failed to connect with a through-ball as Hoult raced out to block the striker.
West Brom returned from the break determined to claim the opener but Ince
saved Johnson's shot before blocking the rebound from Horsfield.
The former Birmingham man then beat Crewe defender Richard Walker but Ince was
again in the right place to turn the ball out for a corner.
Koumas delivered four corners in quick succession but still the home defence
stood firm.
On 58 minutes, Crewe's Justin Cochrane and captain Kenny Lunt combined to
release Steve Jones, but the striker was narrowly offside.
Then Cochrane was again on hand to set up the opening goal on 63 minutes. The
Crewe midfielder played the ball forward, Gaardsoe allowed Ashton in behind him,
and the striker fired in his 14th league goal.
But the home side's lead was soon wiped out, after Gary Megson's replacements
made an instant impact.
First Andy Johnson turned in his first goal of the season on 69 minutes after
a left-wing cross from Lloyd Dyer, who replaced Kinsella on 58 minutes.
Then four minutes later Horsfield knocked the ball over his shoulder and into
the six-yard box where Hughes beat Stephen Foster to the ball to poke in the
winner just two minutes after Rob Hulse had made way.
Crewe's one chance to score an equaliser came on 84 minutes. Ashton picked the
ball up deep and played Steve Jones into the right channel but his shot across
goal went inches wide of the upright.
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