Everton - 0, Crewe Alexandra - 0: The travelling support punched the air as the home partisans grumbled their way towards the exits, but the only shock on Merseyside yesterday was that Everton's FA Cup chances remain intact.
This may have been a scrappy tie, unravelling untidily on a quagmire of a pitch which nullified the visitors' trademark swagger as much as Everton's supposed Premiership superiority, but Crewe left the happier. Pride swelled hearts among their 6,000 following; and an extra payday should do wonders for Crewe's bank balance.
Yet Dario Gradi, in charge for more than 1,000 Alex matches, none of which had come in the fifth round, has always been one for quirky reaction. "We can't concede games and I wasn't hoping Everton would score, but the last thing we wanted was a draw, " he said. So much for the romance of the Cup.
Gradi's club, already around sterling £500,000 better off, may now ask the Football Association to switch the replay to Stoke's Britannia stadium. "We have a great chance to go through, but it won't make our survival in the First Division any easier," Gradi said. "I don't think we'll train any more this season; we'll just play matches instead." As it was, the width of the crossbar denied Crewe their first appearance in the last eight since they reached the semi-finals in 1888. With 16 minutes remaining,
David Wright's chip was met on the half volley by Rob Hulse, who sent the ball spiralling beyond Steve Simonsen and on to the woodwork.
Crewe eked out other chances, though none better. Neil Sorvel's awkward volley was claimed by Simonsen, while Dean Ashton leapt above Stubbs to flick a header wide from Kenny Lunt's free-kick. Everton were so blunt up front that Clayton Ince in the Alexandra goal had just two saves to make - from Scott Gemmill and Stubbs. So tame were those attempts that either might have been confused for a backpass.
Too often David Ginola's free role left him pleading for possession out on the flank, isolating the floundering Kevin Campbell as a lone striker.
EVERTON: Simonsen, Clarke, Weir, Stubbs, Naysmith, Alexandersson (Gascoigne 63), Gemmill, Linderoth (Pembridge 73), Blomqvist (Moore 71), Ginola, Campbell. Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Unsworth. Booked: Moore.
CREWE: Ince, Wright, Sodje, Walton, Smith, Lunt, Sorvel, Brammer, Vaughan (Rix 56), Ashton (Jack 67), Hulse (Foster 90). Subs Not Used: Bankole, Collins. Booked: Walton.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
