Blackburn Rovers...1 Crewe Alex...0

ALTHOUGH you always hope, the odds were against Crewe repeating last season's 'miracle' result at Blackburn.

The festive season brought no cheer for Dario Gradi's men or their supporters as Y2K closed with three straight defeats and a drop into the relegation zone.

After the wind of change in the line-up at Forest, Kearton's omission must have surprised Ewood Park just as much as it did Alex fans on Boxing Day.

But Ademole Bankole kept his place in a side forced into a further reshuffle with injuries removing Rivers and Cramb from the starting eleven.

Paul Tait and Peter Smith joined Colin Little up front and the Alex started brightly, taking the game to their multi-million pound counterparts.

A dream start almost arrived after 7 minutes as Shaun Smith's corner ended at the feet of Collins but with an open net, the midfielder hesitated and gave keeper Filan the chance to block his effort.

Tait enjoyed a couple of attempts as Crewe impressed although Jansen began to turn on the style with a wicked drive only to be denied by excellent work from Bankole.

The Rovers' hitman was working well with Duff as Blackburn began to impose themselves and fashion several opportunities that kept the Nigerian keeper busy.

Crewe were still a threat though and should have taken a lead through Tait on the half hour mark as Collins picked him out with a precision ball but the striker pulled his close-range shot wide of target.

Bankole was in the thick of it again during the remainder of the half as pressure increased on an impatient home side to find a breakthrough.

After such a spirted show before the interval, Crewe were a shadow of themselves in the second half and allowed Blackburn far too much time and room to manoeuvre in.

Jansen, Duff and Dunn all went close as Rovers dominated proceedings forcing Gradi to throw on only half-fit Colin Cramb for Collins on the hour mark.

Alex supporters gave substitute Craig Hignett a warmer welcome than the rest of Ewood Park before Blackburn finally broke the deadlock as man-of-the-match Jansen latched on to Dunn's through ball and hammered home on 68 minutes.

Peter Smith and Colin Little both had half-chances though the outcome was never in doubt and only heroics from Bankole, who was probably the pick of Crewe's performers, kept the scoreline down.

Hopes will be for a happier new year as a relegation battle looks back on the cards.

Crewe: Bankole, Sodje, S Smith, Macauley, Foster, Lunt, Sorvel, Collins (Cramb 62), Tait, P Smith, Little. Subs not used: Kearton, Hulse, Walker, Gannon. Attendance: 18,554.

Crewe's Colin Little ponders what to do as Mark Hughes lumbers in to make a challenge. Photo by Steve Finch.