Ali Benarbia's magic inspired Manchester City to victory over Crewe and sent
them back to the top of the Division One table.
The midfield maestro scored the stunning first goal and set up the second for
Darren Huckerby to give City the two-goal lead at half-time.
After Rodney Jack had reduced the deficit at the start of the second half,
Shaun Goater sealed the win with his 30th goal of the season.
City are now two points clear of main rivals Wolves and still have a game in
hand.
The match enjoyed a lively start with Crewe creating the first chance in the
third minute but, after good work from Rob Hulse and Dean Ashton, Colin Little's
weak 15-yard shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Carlo Nash.
Three minutes later, the home side needed a goalline clearance from Kenny Lunt
to save them after Shaun Goater poked at Huckerby's headed knock-back.
City looked a constant threat with Huckerby's pace up front supported by
Benarbia's surging runs from midfield.
However Alex, cheered on by a sell-out crowd at Gresty Road, were producing
their share of lively, attacking football.
Dangerman Ashton, reportedly attracting the attention of some FA Barclaycard
Premiership clubs, drove in a wicked cross that needed a brave intervention from
Nash at the feet of Hulse.
With 28 minutes gone, Crewe's bright start was brought to shuddering halt by
the magic of Benarbia. He picked the ball up in the inside left channel,
dribbled to the edge of the box and dispatched a stunning right-foot curling
shot into the top corner.
Alex though were undeterred and captain David Wright, who was caught badly out
of position for the first goal, burst forward from right-back with Nash saving
his drive at the second attempt.
City returned fire almost immediately and Shaun Wright-Phillips' 25-yard
effort stopped by Clayton Ince.
Benarbia, however, proved he was human in the 39th minute with a candidate for
miss of the season.
After Ince had spilled the ball in a challenge with Goater, Benarbia proceeded
to hit his shot wide of an open goal from eight yards.
Goater attempted to copy Benarbia's goal in first-half injury time, but his
effort just floated wide of the same top corner.
Moments later, City went two up with Benarbia threading an inch-perfect pass
for Huckerby to finish in the bottom corner from 18 yards.
Alex manager Dario Gradi introduced Rodney Jack at the interval in a bid to
drag his team back into the game, and the switch paid dividends with the
equaliser in the 55th minute.
The lively winger ran onto a long ball and, after Nash slipped and fell as he
came off his line, Jack coolly took up the invitation and lobbed the ball into
the net from 20 yards.
Nash made amends for his error with a good save from Hulse's near-post header
a minute later.
Benarbia though was still pulling the strings in the centre of the park, this
time playing in Goater who failed to take the ball in his stride, instead
setting up Huckerby, but his low strike was comfortably saved by Ince.
Goater did get on the scoresheet in the 75th minute to restore City's two-goal
advantage.
Huckerby's neat flick set up the striker to drive low into the bottom corner
from just inside the area.
Teams
Crewe: Ince, Wright, Walton, Sodje, Charnock (Rix 70),
Little (Jack 45), Lunt, Sorvel, Vaughan, Ashton (Street 88),
Hulse.
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Foster.
Goals: Jack 55.
Man City: Nash, Dunne, Wiekens, Pearce, Wright-Phillips,
Benarbia, Horlock, Tiatto, Jensen, Goater, Huckerby.
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Jihai, Mettomo, Ritchie, Macken.
Booked: Tiatto, Jensen.
Goals: Benarbia 29, Huckerby 45, Goater 75.
Att: 10,092
Ref: P Danson (Leicester).
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