Crewe fully deserve their second crack at Everton after comfortably
frustrating the FA Barclaycard Premiership outfit in the FA Cup fifth round
clash at Goodison Park.
Dario Gradi's boys outthought and outfought Everton, and now must believe they
have a real chance of an upset after making sure of their place in the
quarter-final draw for the first time in 114 years.
Alex have never got to the last eight in Gradi's 19 years of control at Gresty
Road - but on Tuesday week they will have their chance to put that right.
Everton, desperately need the money from a cup run of their own, struggled to
impose any meaasure of their supposed top flight quality on the game.
The Merseysiders discovered what a gamble it is to have David Ginola in their
team.
The Frenchman does so little when his team are not in possession of the ball
that at times they appear to be playing with 10 men - although his inventive
passes were the only moments of skill shown by the workmanlike Toffees.
However, Crewe - organised and competitive - made their hosts look very
ordinary and came closest to winning the tie when Rob Hulse hit the bar in the
second half.
At the back Efe Sodje and Dave Walton were outstanding, while Neil Sorvel
matched anything in midfield that Everton could produce.
With 6,000 fans at their backs, the visitors caused Everton all sorts of
problems.
Gradi's sides have a reputation for playing decent passing football, and they
demonstrated it here against five-times winners Everton - who last won the
competition seven years ago.
Boss Walter Smith decided against using Ginola and Paul Gascoigne
together in the starting line-up, leaving Gazza on the bench for the start,
while Niclas Alexandersson returned after a knee injury and Scot Gemmill from
suspension.
But it was Crewe who took the game to their hosts, with Dave Brammer and
Sorvel industrious and quick in midfield, and Hulse and England Under-19 starlet
Dean Ashton more than a handful for Alan Stubbs and David Weir.
For Everton, anything inventive came through Ginola - who switched from wing
to wing - leaving Kevin Campbell isolated up front.
Jesper Blomqvist's run and shot, plus a 20-yard effort from Stubbs, were the
best Everton could manage in an opening half in which Ashton saw two headers go
close.
But it was Crewe who constructed their moves better, and Sorvel produced a
dipping right footer that needed all Steve Simonsen's concentration to field.
Crewe had brought in keeper Clayton Ince inplace of Ade Bankole, dropped for
his part in the previous week's six-goal mauling by Coventry, and the
replacement looked confident in the air, as well as quick and decisive off his
line.
Everton's problems came in the centre of midfield, where Tobias Linderoth and
Gemmill struggled to keep a grip on Sorvel and Brammer.
The hosts started to apply some pressure after the break, and appeals for a
penalty when the ball hit Sodje's arm were waved aside by referee Uriah Rennie.
Gascoigne was introduced for Alexandersson after 62 minutes as Smith's side
sought to subdue their determined, confident opponents.
And the home crowd's desperation grew with Joe-Max Moore and Mark Pembridge
thrown in a bid to avert a replay.
But Crewe had no intention of accepting the script, and on 76 minutes they hit
the bar when David Wright's ball found Hulse in the box, and the striker's
hooked shot rattled the woodwork.
Sorvel at one end and Moore at the other saw 25-yard shots threaten, but a
game largely devoid of excitement and genuine quality finished in a draw.
Teams:
Everton: Simonsen, Clarke, Weir, Stubbs, Naysmith,
Alexandersson (Gascoigne 63), Gemmill,
Linderoth (Pembridge 73), Blomqvist (Moore 71), Ginola,
Campbell.
Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Unsworth.
Booked: Moore.
Crewe: Ince, Wright, Sodje, Walton, Smith, Lunt, Sorvel,
Brammer, Vaughan (Rix 56), Ashton (Jack 67), Hulse (Foster 90).
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Collins.
Booked: Walton.
Att: 29,399
Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).
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