13 Years Ago Today - Crewe 2-3 Blues

Saturday, 5th February 2000 - Blues went to Crewe and came out 3-2 winners in an entertaining match in the old First Division.

Former Crewe favourite Dele Adebola won the day for Blues when he struck in the 70th minute to grab what proved to be the winner when Alex keeper Jason Kearton spilled the ball after saving a shot from Simon Charlton.

Earlier in the game, Crewe have nosed in front when Steve McAuley headed past Ian Bennett.

That lead lasted until just before the half time whistle when Blues pulled level in controversial circumstances when David Wright was adjudged to have brought down Isiah Rankin in the box and despite the anger of the crowd and the protests from the Crewe players, the penalty was given and Martin O'Connor made no mistake from the spot.

Birmingham came out for the second half boosted by the goal and on 54 minutes a through ball from Charlton was latched onto by Bryan Hughes and he shot through Kearton's legs to make it 2-1.

Then Adebola found out that he was not as popular with the Crewe fans as he once was when he made it 3-1.

Marcus Bignott had the ball in the net after 72 minutes, but the goal was disallowed by the sharp eyed linesman who flagged for offside.

Crewe kept plugging away and managed to reduce the deficit five minutes into injury time when McAuley fired home at the far post from a Kenny Lunt corner.

Crewe: Kearton, Bignot, Foran, Macauley, S. Wright (Tait 58), D. Wright, Sorvel, Lightfoot (Little 58), Lunt, Rivers, Jack.

Subs Not Used: Ince, Cramb, Liddle.

Blues: Bennett, Rowett, Johnson, Holdsworth, Grainger, Hughes, O'Connor, Hyde (Lazaridis 46), Charlton, Adebola (Marcelo 82), Rankin (Gill 80).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Purse.

Attendance: 6,289

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