Crewe Alexandra

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Crewe Alexandra midfielder Jack Lankester says their 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers was exactly what was needed after a run of six straight draws in League Two.

Having had to settle for single points against Port Vale, Walsall, York City, Colchester United, Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United, the Alex returned to winning ways in style with a confident victory over the Gas.

Lankester's opening goal after 38 seconds got Crewe off to the perfect start and he later added a second from the spot.

Jordan Gibson made the points safe after half-time before Rovers grabbed a stunning consolation as Bobby Kamwa scored from midway inside his own half.

The victory lifted Crewe into third place and Lankester said the result put a valuable gloss on their recent run.

"That's what we've needed. I think it's been coming," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I said before the game, the draws look a lot better if we come away with a win and that's what we did.

"Suddenly we're still undefeated and in a great position in the league."

Lankester said he had no problem being substituted just after the hour mark, to be replaced by Conor Thomas, despite being on a hat-trick.

"I'd love to get a hat-trick but the way the game was going the personnel change -bring CT on - just solidifies us as a team.

"The most important thing is coming away with three points and that's what we did."

Lankester's double was his second of the season, having scored twice against Aston Villa's Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy 11 days earlier.

It took his tally to five in 11 games this term, after an injury-hit 2025-26, and has given him - and the Alex - a timely boost.

"I think the two goals in the week really helped to give me confidence. I've now got five in 10 or so games - hopefully I can continue that," he added.

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Crewe Alexandra midfielder Joe White says although the team's current run of draws gives a feeling they "cannot win or lose games at the moment" it does help build confidence by making them feel "safe" in matches.

After winning their first two games of the new League Two season, the Alex have picked up six points from stalemates with Port Vale, Walsall, York City, Colchester United, Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United.

Their only defeat came at Barnsley in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

White told BBC Radio Stoke, as frustrating as their run of draws has been, he is clear how it has made the squad feel.

"Confident," he said.

"I think over the eight league games we've had, there's obviously been spells where you're going to be under the cosh but, in general, we've felt quite safe. We haven't felt under threat under a large period of time in games.

"It's a bit of a weird one because we can't seem to win or lose but it's a good thing that we're unbeaten and obviously [that] brings confidence into the team."

The goalless draw at Vale Park at the end of August is the only game in which Crewe have failed to score.

And White says that fact is another reason why they believe better results are imminent.

"That's why we're not beating ourselves up," he added.

"We obviously know we need to do better because six points from six isn't good enough.

"We just need to put that into a 90-minute performance. Because we haven't converted as many chances as we would have liked, it feels a bit rushed, but that's not on the front four, that's on everyone.

"Everyone needs to create chances. Everyone needs to score goals. I am responsible for that, and the whole team should be as well."

Crewe take on third-placed Bristol Rovers at the Mornflake Stadium on Saturday in a game White says Crewe "expect to win".

"Before the season started they were probably one of the favourites to go up with the squad, the manager [Steve Evans] obviously having his record in the league, so it'll be tough," White said.

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Crewe Alexandra have made a double signing, bringing in Celtic midfielder Kyle Ure on loan, hours after agreeing a similar deal with Brentford defender Josh Stephenson.

Ure, 20, is yet to make a first-team breakthrough at Parkhead, but he did spend the 2025-26 season out on loan at Scottish Championship side Aye United, making 18 appearances.

He will spend the season with the Alex and is the second Celtic midfielder to leave for an English club in the past week, following Arne Engels' record-breaking move to West Ham.

Left-back Stephenson, also 20, has joined Crewe on loan from the Premier League Bees until January 2027.

The former Millwall academy graduate was promoted to Brentford's first-team squad this summer and will now develop his senior experience at the Mornflake Stadium.

Image source, Reuters

Stephenson, who can also play at centre-back, was named in three Premier League matchday squads and two in the FA Cup for Brentford's first team last term, but is yet to make a senior appearance.

Ure and Stephenson follow the signings of strikers Jordan Gibson and Sheffield Wednesday loan man Charlie McNeill, centre-back Luke Offord and fellow midfielder Joe White this summer.

Both are in contention to make debuts in Saturday's League Two game against Northampton Town.

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Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell said their opening-day win at Crawley was further proof that his young side can stand up to the physical demands of League Two and cannot be "bullied" in games.

The Alex have a long-standing tradition of blooding young players which, Lee said, has led to a perception that they are a soft touch.

But their hard-fought 2-1 win on Saturday, with seven players aged 23 or under involved, was the latest example of that myth being busted.

"There used to be an old saying of coming to Crewe and we'll get on top of them and we'll try to bully them, and a bunch of kids, and all this but not this group," Lee told BBC Radio Stoke.

"They'll stand up to what's thrown at them and then I think we've got some ability out there to be able to then control games.

"I hope it's gone away [the perception]. I've worked hard to try to get rid of that label for the last few years because there has been times in the past when teams come with a bit more physicality and we were right up there defending for the size of our team in terms of set-pieces but they have to be able to compete.

"If you can win your duels inside your box [it] nullifies something like 85% of the attacks so it's really, really important that we puff our chests out and we give as good as what we get."

As pleased as Lee was with the three points at Crawley, he was keen to see it in the context of it being the first game of the season.

"It's a good start and that's all it is in terms of the results," he said.

"We want to see a little bit more control in terms of how we want to play. We do like to get in behind the opposition but we're doing it from the wrong areas of the pitch so we've got to build the ball up a little bit more."

Lee added how much work-rate is key to their plans.

"The players that have come through in the last couple years know me know and what what I'm about, what I demand in terms of what they have to do out of possession and winning duels. So I've been quite lucky in that sense.

"You've got to be an exceptional player every week to not compete and work hard for your team-mates because the best teams do in the division."