Falling In Love Again

Crewe 0 Ipswich 1
Carling Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday night was one of those nights. The sort of night that almost makes up for the bitter disappointments of so many other nights. The sort of night you remember why you support your team. The sort of night that gives you hope and makes you believe the good times really could be just around the corner.
Can't say I understood the way the draw for the second round of the Carling Cup was worked out, but when I saw Crewe had got a home draw I was pleased. Then I saw them draw out Ipswich and I was even more pleased. I know a lot of fans poo-poohed it as a "rubbish draw"  but I thought that taking on Roy Keane's Ipswich would be good for us. Home draw, against another Championship side that like to play football, so got to be a chance of an upset. Surely?
After the spanking of Barnet, everyone knew Ipswich would be a much tougher proposition and so it proved. Even so, Crewe proved a match for them. Ipswich arguably shaded the first half, but with both sides having chances, there was little in it. The second half was more even and as it wore on, with extra time looming, the crowd really got behind Crewe. Which was in marked contrast to the second half against Hereford!
In the end Ipswich managed to take a chance deep into the first half of extra time when a poor clearance from a corner fell to David Norris in the penalty area and he buried it. Crewe threw everything at them but couldn't find that precious equaliser despite the vast majority of the crowd willing the ball into the back of the net.
So, disappointment at the final whistle. But only disappointment at the result. The performance was superb. Bell, Westwood and Murphy all gave the lie to the belief that Crewe are only about pretty football, Ada and Artell were immense at the back. Grant seems a different player after a spell on the bench and Donaldson and Miller seem to have improved from last season. All looking good, apart from the injury to Tootle meaning they'll be making do at right back for the next 2 or 3 games. Do have concerns that they still don't have enough strength in depth, but Crewe are a 4th Division club and can't afford to run a squad of forty players any more.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. This weekend it's off to Lincoln who also got their first win of the season last week. They've not been involved in the Carling Cup though, so think they'll be a bit fresher. Could be a tough one. Win or lose, I'll be on the booze as post-match I'm off to see my mate Kev in Grimsby. Next update won't be till Monday, I reckon.