Crewe Alex 1 - West Brom 2

Last updated : 14 March 2004 By FootyMad

The Baggies fell behind when Dean Ashton gave Dario Gradi's side the lead but hit back well and clinched the three points thanks to late goals by Andy Johnson and Lee Hughes.

After a disappointing first half in which chances were few and far between, the game burst into life after the interval.

Geoff Horsfield was guilty of missing several good opportunities to break the deadlock as Crewe more than held their own.

The former Fulham and Birmingham City striker should have opened the scoring with a close-range effort after Clayton Ince had parried Johnson's initial shot.

Ince then pulled off two more good saves to deny Horsfield before Crewe took the lead against the run of play in the 63rd minute.

The Baggies defence failed to pick up Ashton following a long pass from Justin Cochrane and the highly-rated striker made no mistake when firing the ball home with a shot from just inside the box.

However, the visitors were soon back on level terms. In the 69th minute Johnson fired home after Lloyd Dyer had whipped in a cross from the right.

Substitute Hughes wrapped up the points for Gary Megson's side four minutes later when he prodded the ball home from close range following Horsfield's cross.

Steve Jones went close to grabbing an equaliser for the Railwaymen at the death, but Albion hung on to open up a nine-point gap between them and third-placed Wigan Athletic.

Crewe: Ince, Billy Jones, Foster, Walker, Vaughan, Lunt, Sorvel, Cochrane, Hignett, Steve Jones, Ashton. Subs: Tonkin, Robinson, McCready, Edwards, Tomlinson.

West Brom: Hoult, Haas, Moore, Gaardsoe, Robinson, Johnson, Kinsella, Gregan, Koumas, Horsfield, Hulse. Subs: Murphy, Dyer, Hughes, Facey, Clement.

Referee: M Thorpe (Suffolk)