It was an Easter Monday to forget for Salford City as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat on the road at Crewe Alexandra.
A first-half strike from Emre Tezgal was enough to inflict a defeat which leaves the Ammies three points off the automatic promotion spots.
From minute one, the travelling fans were in superb voice. I’m not sure if the ‘Ice cream van stand’ has ever seen an atmosphere like it.
A back-and-forth opening stage saw both sides presented with chances and Crewe came close to opening the scoring after 12 minutes when Matty Young kept out a direct attempt at goal from a corner by Tommi O’Reilly.
Crewe came close to opening the scoring but were denied on the line by Matt Young following a neatly taken corner.
But Salford’s reprieve was to be short-lived as Crewe broke the deadlock two minutes later.
After Adebola Oluwo made two excellent blocks inside the box and Young made a smart save to keep out an effort from Matús Holícek, a new wave of Crewe pressure saw Tezgel volley home the opening goal.
Backfooted by the goal, Salford knew they had to step things up a gear and came close to drawing level after the half-hour mark when striker Ryan Graydon’s audacious lob dropped narrowly over the crossbar.
As the half dwindled on, Salford began to lose their edge going forward. Crewe looked to fight back with an array of long balls but couldn’t break through the Ammies backline.
Karl Robinson’s men were fast into the tunnel as the referee whistled for half-time and a triple change at the break saw Dan Udoh, Haji Mnoga, and Fabio Borini make their way onto the pitch.
Ten minutes after the break, Crewe were denied a second goal by the linesman’s flag as neat play released O’Reilly, who crossed for James Connolly to head home, only for it to be ruled out.
Salford were content to soak up pressure and looked to catch their opponents on the break. This plan nearly paid off when Grayon was played through on goal again, but the striker’s shot from the right crashed into the side netting.
Ammies goalkeeper Young was superb throughout but nearly conceded a comical goal a weak effort nearly went through his legs, but his blushes were spared as he recovered just in time.
With half an hour left on the clock, Salford were presented with chances to get back into the game, both of which fell to substitute Udoh.
The first was blocked for a corner, the other, a neat Brandon Cooper first-time pass to the striker’s feet. However, Udoh didn’t anticipate the ball well enough as the keeper claimed the chance.
In a cagey game where both sides continued to press for the second goal, Holicek went close to doubling Crewe’s advantage on 66 minutes as his shot from inside the box rattled the crossbar.
Play had to be halted as Jorge Grant was struck in the face, cutting the midfielder open and when the game resumed, it was the hosts who would come closest in the final 20 minutes.
Lee Bell’s side couldn’t believe their luck as a 76th-minute corner was met by Tezel, whose acrobatic attempt on goal rattled the inside of the post.
It came back to the goalscorer and this time he went for power, smashing the ball at point-blank range, but somehow the ball hit the woodwork again as Salford were by some miracle still in this contest.
Salford were working their way into the opponents’ final third but just couldn’t produce a clear-cut opportunity.
Seven minutes of additional time presented Salford with a chance to steal a point at the death, but unlike their dramatic 2-1 win over Notts County on Good Friday, they were unable to find a crucial late goal.
We appreciate your continuous backing.
Thanks for your support in Crewe 👏 pic.twitter.com/wgdCAEjUcX
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) April 6, 2026
Luke Garbutt took an ambitious effort from distance which troubled the keeper, but Crewe held on comfortably to deal a heavy blow to Salford’s top three chances.
Karl Robinson’s men sit sixth in League Two, three points off Notts County, who occupy the final automatic promotion place, but their poor goal difference means they will have to make up four points on their rivals in the final five games.
