Stockport County progress in Carabao Cup

Stockport County 3 - 1 Crewe Alexandra

Stockport County advanced to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a commanding victory over Crewe Alexandra.

Author | Alan Thompson

Stadium | Edgeley Park

Stockport on the attack again

Second-half headers from Kyle Wootton and Nathan Lowe, followed by a fine strike from Lewis Fiorini, secured a deserved win for the hosts, while Emre Tezgel claimed a late consolation for the visitors.

A closer look at what turned into a comfortable night for Stockport

Crewe almost made a dream start when Adrien Thibaut hooked over inside five minutes, before Wootton’s header drew an outstanding fingertip save from Burnley loanee Sam Waller. The Crewe goalkeeper was again called into action to deny Odin Bailey midway through the first half, while Callum Connolly nodded narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

Lowe came close twice before the break, glancing a header wide and forcing Waller into another stop from a deflected shot.

Stockport’s breakthrough came four minutes after the restart when Owen Dodgson headed across goal for Wootton to nod in from close range. Lowe doubled the advantage just three minutes later, guiding in another pinpoint Dodgson delivery.

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Tezgel tested Ben Hinchliffe in the home goal before Fiorini’s superb strike from distance put the tie beyond reach with 13 minutes remaining.

Crewe substitute Tommi O’Reilly looked certain to score late on, only for team-mate Oliver Armstrong to inadvertently block his shot. Tezgel did find the net soon after, turning in an 86th-minute cross to give the League Two side a consolation.

Reaction from people that were there

Macca, a Manchester City fan, watched the match as a neutral and said: "“Stockport looked comfortable for much of the match and always seemed in control once they went ahead. Crewe worked hard but never really looked like challenging in the final third. It felt like a game where the result was rarely in doubt, even when the visitors pulled a goal back late on.”