Crewe...3 Coventry...1

MASTERSTROKE or disaster?

After the first 45 minutes, many felt Dario Gradi's self confessed gamble of playing Michael Higdon and Michael Symes up front was destined to be the latter.

But both were on target in a superb second-half to put Crewe on their way to a vital 3-1 victory over Coventry on Easter Monday.

It ended up looking like a move even Chelsea's 'Tinkerman' would have been proud of.

Disappointment at Watford and facing a second game in three days, boss Dario Gradi made four changes to the line-up with Dean Ashton, Neil Sorvel, Craig Hignett and David Vaughan all out.

Together with a new-look strikeforce, Justin Cochrane returned alongside Dave Brammer and Steve Jones was deployed on the left-hand side of midfield as the Alex looked for that elusive win to break the 50-point mark.

On the evidence of the first-half at the Alexandra Stadium, it didn't look like happening on this day.

Fresh from an ominous looking 4-0 victory over FA Cup finalists Millwall, Coventry dominated and the impressive Onandi Lowe had the ball in the net as early as four minutes, ruled out as it was an indirect free-kick.

But despite a wealth of possession, the visitors rarely tested star keeper Ben Williams as Lowe headed wide from Steve Staunton's free-kick and Deloumeaux and Joachim both went close without providing a stern test.

Only once was Williams called upon to produce trademark heroics with a flying stop to keep out Deloumeaux before Cochrane produced some of his own, throwing himself in front of Doyle's volley.

Crewe enjoyed a better spell towards the interval and a neat link-up with Symes saw Jones put a shot just wide of the far post; a glimmer of what was to come.

Gradi's gamble began to pay dividends just two minutes after the restart as Lunt and Jonah combined in a fine flowing move for Symes to tee up Higdon who provided a cool finish.

The sense of relief could be felt throughout the ground and the prolific youngster's first senior goal proved the catalyst for an excellent second-half performance.

A determined Alex were battling away for everything and anything as they seized the initiative in style.

Coventry were restricted to speculative long-range efforts before the on-loan Everton man made it 2-0 on 64 minutes.

Lunt's precision long-range pass put Symes one-on-one with Shearer and he cleverly slid the ball under the onrushing keeper.

Crewe were looking comfortable for the vital three points but a tense finale looked likely when they switched off for a Gudonsson free-kick and an unmarked Lowe headed home on 83 minutes.

Not to be denied, the points were wrapped up five minutes later when Steve Jones picked up Higdon's clearance and blitzed past Staunton before being hauled down by Shearer.

A definite penalty, the keeper should have walked but it didn't matter to Crewe as sub Ashton stepped up to convert a second successive spot kick.

It was a massive result particularly with results elsewhere, and another season of First Division Football is now within their grasp.

Crewe: Williams, B Jones (McCready 79), Wright, Moses, Foster, Lunt, Brammer, Cochrane, Jones, Higdon, Symes (Ashton 84).

Subs not used: Bankole, Sorvel, Varney.

Attendance - 7,475.

Guardian Man-of-the-Match: Justin Cochrane - a second half performance that summed up the team's. He battled hard