Stevenage 2-2 Crewe Alexandra

Stevenage maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they came from two down to draw with 10-man Crewe.

The hosts seemed to be slipping to a first league defeat of the new term when Crewe striker A J Leitch-Smith netted twice in the first 10 minutes.

Stevenage hit back before the break via Luke Freeman's 25-yarder before Crewe loan man Chuks Aneke was red-carded for a two-footed lunge at Anthony Grant.

Robin Shroot completed the comeback, firing home on the turn late on.

Leitch-Smith broke the deadlock on six minutes, stealing a march on his marker at the far post to fire high into the roof of the net.

Little more than a minute later, he made it two, racing clear of Boro's back four to finish emphatically across keeper Chris Day.

After Freeman's vicious 25-yard drive halved the deficit to 2-1 at the break, on-loan Arsenal teenager Aneke, making his first start for Crewe against the club where he was on loan last season, was then dismissed on 73 minutes.

And Stevenage's man advantage proved crucial eight minutes from time when former Birmingham City striker Shroot collected the ball on the turn before firing past the stricken Alan Martin.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Stevenage manager Gary Smith told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It's the start of the season, we're a group that are coming together and we've seen a lot of positives.

"Make no mistake, none of us are happy about the start but when you think how many players have been added to this group and the direction we're moving in, I think we're starting to show some much better signs in our play.

"We played some really assertive football, the two up front worked reasonably well together and there's a lot to persevere with."

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