Match ends, Stevenage 1, Crewe Alexandra 0.
StevenageStevenage1CreweCrewe Alexandra0
Francois Zoko was Stevenage's hero as his early goal gave League One's bottom club a desperately-needed victory over fellow strugglers Crewe.
Stevenage got off to an ideal start, in the fifth minute, when Zoko controlled the ball in the box and beat Crewe defender Mark Ellis before finishing.
Crewe top scorer Chuks Aneke twice went close to equalising for the visitors.
Zoko's 15th goal of the season leaves backmarkers Stevenage now six points adrift of 20th-placed Crewe.
Crewe made a change in goal, bringing back Neil Etheridge following his return on loan from Fulham earlier in the day.
Injury-hit Alex boss Steve Davis, missing eight outfield players, also had to make a further alteration to the starting line-up for Saturday's 3-1 win at local rivals Port Vale on Saturday, as on-loan Manchester City midfielder George Evans was sidelined with a foot problem.
Stevenage manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"We ground out a determined, but very ugly, 1-0 win
"When you get a goal after four minutes you hope it settles the nerves - I don't think it did.
"We'll realise on reflection that we have to be better in possession.
"In terms of grit, determination and work rate, they really did spend themselves tonight."
Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke:
"I don't think I've had so many players out with injury. It left us a bit short on the bench.
"I won't complain or use the ones we had missing as an excuse for the defeat because I felt we did enough to have at least got a point.
"I'm sure we will have some of our players back for Saturday's home game with Swindon."
Line-ups
Stevenage
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Day
- 22Obeng
- 29HartleySubstituted forAkinsat 67'minutes
- 20Smith
- 4Dembele
- 5Ashton
- 12Zoko
- 13ParrettSubstituted forMoraisat 54'minutes
- 9Charles
- 24DoughtySubstituted forWedgburyat 77'minutes
- 15Freeman
Substitutes
- 1Arnold
- 2Wedgbury
- 6Jones
- 7Morais
- 10Burrow
- 11Akins
- 34Deacon
Crewe
Formation 4-3-3
- 38Etheridge
- 2Tootle
- 16Guthrie
- 42GrantSubstituted forOliverat 90'minutes
- 4DavisBooked at 80mins
- 5Ellis
- 14Inman
- 18Nolan
- 26Aneke
- 11MooreSubstituted forWatersat 84'minutes
- 9Pogba
Substitutes
- 3Mellor
- 6Dugdale
- 19Oliver
- 21Garratt
- 29Waters
- Referee:
- Darren Sheldrake
- Attendance:
- 1,970
Match Stats
Home TeamStevenageAway TeamCrewe
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Stevenage 1, Crewe Alexandra 0.
Post update
Foul by Vadaine Oliver (Crewe Alexandra).
Post update
Jon Ashton (Stevenage) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Vadaine Oliver (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Vadaine Oliver replaces Anthony Grant.
Post update
Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Mark Ellis.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Billy Waters replaces Byron Moore.
Post update
Anthony Grant (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Filipe Morais (Stevenage).
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Ellis (Crewe Alexandra) header from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Francois Zoko.
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Filipe Morais.
Booking
Harry Davis (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Harry Davis (Crewe Alexandra).
Post update
Francois Zoko (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chukwuemeka Aneke (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Sam Wedgbury replaces Michael Doughty.
Post update
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Michael Doughty.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jimmy Smith (Stevenage) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
