Crewe pull off stunning comeback to beat Doncaster and reach League Two play-off final
Doncaster had won first leg 2-0 on Monday
Demetriou and Maxwell own goal helped Crewe level on aggregate
Visitors won 4-3 on penalties with Max Stryjek saving two spot kicks
The Alex will face either Crawley or MK Dons in final at Wembley on 19 May
Mickey Demetriou
Image source, Rex FeaturesThat will certainly do for starters if you're a Crewe fan!
The visitors win the first corner of the game, it's floated from the left-hand side towards the back post and centre-back Mickey Demetriou rises highest to nod it home from six yards.
Game definitely on.
Doncaster 0-0 Crewe (2-0 agg)
Peter Morse
Crewe summariser on BBC Radio Stoke
The irony is we've talked about atmosphere, about occasion, about the stakes but for me, it's all about composure.
Crewe don't need to get the score back quickly, they need to play with their brains.
Doncaster 0-0 Crewe (2-0 agg)
Crewe are aiming to become only the third team in the history of the fourth-tier play-offs to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg of their semi-final to reach the final.
Preston did so against Torquay in 1994, winning 4-3 on aggregate after extra time having lost the first leg 2-0 in Devon.
In 2020, Northampton were beaten 2-0 at home by Cheltenham but won the return fixture 3-0 and eventually went on to win promotion.
Image source, Getty ImagesDoncaster 0-0 Crewe (2-0 agg)
A huge task awaits Crewe as they look to come back from 2-0 down at the halfway point of this League Two play-off semi-final.
It's the Alex who get us under way.
Doncaster v Crewe (20:00 BST - 2-0 agg)
Out come the teams at a sunny Eco-Power Stadium...
Doncaster in red and white hoops, Crewe in their change kit of black and blue.
Doncaster v Crewe (20:00 BST - 2-0 agg)
BBC Local Radio
You can listen to live commentary of tonight's match on BBC Radio Sheffield and BBC Radio Stoke.
Rights restrictions prevent us from streaming live commentaries of English Football League games on the BBC Sport website and app, however, we will bring you analysis of some of the key moments from the two commentary teams in our live text coverage.
Doncaster v Crewe (20:00 BST - 2-0 agg)
Doncaster manager Grant McCann told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We've got a group of players who are very level-headed and they're just focused on performing. They want to put a good performance on for a packed house and try to get after them by being as positive as we can.
"It's brilliant to have the fanbase supporting us and they've been doing that all season. They're coming out in their numbers and there's no better place to play when our home ground is bouncing.
"It's what we do it for. To know we've got that support behind us is really encouraging."
Crewe manager Lee Bell told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We've given ourselves a tough task at the in-form team in the league but we're positive.
"We've got to be mindful and not rush it. We can't go gung-ho from the start.
"The players can take more risks higher up the pitch and we need to show more belief in the final third. We've got the quality."
Doncaster v Crewe (20:00 BST - 2-0 agg)
Doncaster have made one change to the side that won at Crewe on Monday - experienced midfielder Tommy Rowe is in for the injured Harrison Biggins, scorer of Rovers' second goal in that game.
As for the Alex, manager Lee Bell has changed four of his starting XI. Chris Long, Ed Turns, Conor Thomas and Aaron Rowe are all in from the start.
The full line-ups can be found by clicking on the "Line-ups" tab at the top of this page.
Doncaster v Crewe (20:00 BST - 2-0 agg)
Image source, PA MediaDoncaster scored a goal in each half of the first leg to take full control of this semi-final.
Luke Molyneux's neat near-post finish gave in-form Rovers the lead before half-time and Harrison Biggins turned in from close range to double their advantage.
Crewe were not quite at their best on the day but, while Doncaster are clear favourites to progress to Wembley, do not be fooled into thinking this tie is completely over.
Doncaster v Crewe (20:00 BST - 2-0 agg)
Hello and welcome to live text coverage of the League Two play-off semi-final second leg between Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, which gets under way in about 15 minutes.
It's advantage Rovers after a 2-0 win in Monday's first leg in Cheshire...
Image source, PA Media
Crewe Alexandra will play Crawley Town or MK Dons in the League Two play-off final
Crewe Alexandra overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit to beat Doncaster Rovers on penalties and secure a place in the League Two play-off final.
Goalkeeper Max Stryjek, only at the club on an emergency loan from Wycombe, was the hero as he saved penalties from Zain Westbrooke and Hakeeb Adelakun to secure a 4-3 shootout win.
Crewe, who ended the season with just one win from their final nine league games, have become just the fourth team in play-off history to come back from losing the first leg of a semi-final by two goals at home and still make the final.
Mickey Demetriou rose highest at the back post to head home Joel Tabiner's corner and James Maxwell bundled Chris Long's low cross into his own net to level the aggregate score after just 16 minutes and leave the home fans stunned.
Rovers improved as the game wore on and Richard Wood headed just wide from a Hakeeb Adelakun centre - and Crewe somehow managed to get the ball clear following a goalmouth scramble, as the hosts came close to what would have been a tie-winning goal in the 90 minutes.
Luke Molyneux saw a fierce effort turned on to the post by Stryjek in the first half of extra time but, with both teams looking exhausted, there were no more chances of note.
Doncaster looked to have the advantage when Thimothee Lo-Tutala saved Mickey Demetriou's second penalty for the away side but Stryjek saved Westbrooke's effort in the next kick and, after all the rest were scored, Adelakun was denied by the keeper.
Crewe will now play the winner of MK Dons and Crawley, who meet again on Saturday with the Red Devils 3-0 up from the first leg, at Wembley on Sunday, 19 May.
In complete contrast to how Crewe had ended the season, Doncaster had gone on a stunning club record equalling run of 10 successive wins to climb into the top seven in the final week of the campaign.
They looked to be in the box seat to reach a first play-off final since beating Leeds in the League One showpiece in 2008, after claiming a 2-0 win in Monday's first leg, but saw their lead evaporate in double-quick time on Friday.
Demetriou, who had been at fault for Rovers' second goal in the first leg, headed in his 10th goal of the season and they kept their foot down to make it 2-2 on aggregate when Aaron Rowe played Long in down the inside right channel and his low cross was bundled in for an own goal.
Rovers had not been beaten at home since a 5-1 reverse to Stockport back in January and rallied, Adelakun lashing a shot over from outside the area before the break.
Grant McCann's side had the better of things for the remainder of the match but could not find a goal and a third season in League Two now awaits them.
This is the second time the former Northern Ireland international has led the club into the play-offs and both have ended in defeat on penalties in the semi-final, after Charlton prevailed on spot-kicks in the 2019 League One semi.
Stryjek joined Crewe Alexandra on an emergency loan earlier this season
This is Crewe's first play-off final since 2011-12 when now boss Lee Bell came on as a late sub in a 2-0 win over Cheltenham in the League Two final.
Given the relative form of the two teams their comeback looked highly improbable pre-match - Crewe had failed to score twice in a single game in their previous 12 outings.
Their hero was equally unlikely. Pole Stryjek had started the season as Wycombe's first-choice keeper before losing his place following a red card in February.
He joined Alex on an emergency loan in April and started his spell at the club with successive 3-0 home defeats.
His parent club have already confirmed that he will not be offered a new deal for next season, so he will hope to put himself in the shop window with another match-winning display.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 96 | 48 | 48 | 92 |
| |
| 2 | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 89 | 52 | 37 | 88 |
| |
| 3 | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 90 | 47 | 43 | 86 |
| |
| 4 | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 83 | 68 | 15 | 78 |
| |
| 5 | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 68 | 5 | 71 |
| |
| 6 | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 69 | 65 | 4 | 71 |
| |
| 7 | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 73 | 67 | 6 | 70 |
| |
| 8 | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 56 | 6 | 69 |
| |
| 9 | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 61 | 59 | 2 | 69 |
| |
| 10 | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 64 | 51 | 13 | 65 |
| |
| 11 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 69 | 73 | -4 | 65 |
| |
| 12 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 46 | 57 | -11 | 64 |
| |
| 13 | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 60 | 69 | -9 | 63 |
| |
| 14 | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 89 | 86 | 3 | 61 |
| |
| 15 | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 67 | 81 | -14 | 58 |
| |
| 16 | 46 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 67 | 70 | -3 | 57 |
| |
| 17 | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 63 | 71 | -8 | 57 |
| |
| 18 | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 62 | 76 | -14 | 55 |
| |
| 19 | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 77 | 83 | -6 | 54 |
| |
| 20 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 66 | 82 | -16 | 51 |
| |
| 21 | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 57 | 74 | -17 | 49 |
| |
| 22 | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 59 | 80 | -21 | 45 |
| |
| 23 | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 59 | 84 | -25 | 42 |
| |
| 24 | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 44 | 78 | -34 | 42 |
|
Manager: Grant McCann
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Lee Bell
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Grant McCann
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Lee Bell
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
League Two
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All competitions
All competitions
Doncaster Rovers have won each of their last two games against Crewe, both 2-0 wins this year, after winning just two of their previous 11 encounters in all competitions (D2 L7).
Crewe have won on two of their last four visits to Doncaster (L2), having only won one of their prior nine trips there in all competitions (D2 L6).
Only on two occasions previously in the four tier of the Football League play-offs has a side who has lost the first leg by two goals gone on to reach the final, Preston North End in 1994 and Northampton Town in 2020, with the Cobblers the only such side to do so after losing the first leg at home.
Of sides that have played in at least five games in the Football League play-offs, only Burnley and Hull City (both 75%) have a higher win percentage than Doncaster Rovers (67% - 4/6), though their only defeat did come at home, losing 2-1 to Charlton in 2019.
Doncaster’s Joe Ironside has been involved in a goal in each of his last six games in all competitions (6 goals, 1 assist), setting up Harrison Biggins’ goal in the first leg. Indeed, in the first leg he won possession in the final third four times, twice as much as any other player.
Crewe’s Elliott Nevitt has scored four goals in his last seven away games in all competitions, while four of the Railwaymen’s final five away goals in League Two this season were scored by him.
