Manager Lee Bell was full of praise as Crewe recorded successive League Two wins as they fought from a goal down to clinch a convincing 4-1 away victory over Forest Green.
Goals from Chris Long, Elliot Nevitt and a double from Courtney Baker-Richardson saw the Railwaymen take home all three points from a fine second-half display.
Reece Brown opened the scoring for Forest Green but Alex turned on the style after the break to record a comfortable win.
Bell said: “Our away form over 18 months has been horrific and it’s something we’ve looked at.
“It’s back-to-back wins so I can’t praise the players enough. A really good afternoon so I’ll enjoy it tonight.”
A neat one-two between Troy Deeney and Kyle McAllister saw the latter cross low for Matty Taylor who squandered a golden opportunity early on.
Aaron Rowe’s pinpoint cross found Courtney Baker-Richardson unmarked six yards out but his header crashed against the crossbar before the forward man fired over the rebound.
Reece Welch was denied at point-black range following a corner but Brown took full advantage as he slammed home the loose ball after 35 minutes.
Baker-Richardson powered home a Joel Tabiner corner directed towards the near post, just past the hour mark.
Crewe’s number nine added a third – eight minutes later – as he hammered home a right-footed effort from the edge of the area after Rovers failed to clear.
Long drove to the byline and delivered a low cross for substitute Nevitt to tap home a fourth for the rampant visitors.
Bell added: “The scoreline flattered them going into half-time. We could’ve had two or three goals.
“They took the messages at half-time. We moved a couple of things around so all the credit should go to the players and the staff today.
“It’s really pleasing that they’re getting the opportunities more freely this season. The forwards don’t just score goals, they work hard without the ball.
“I don’t think they could handle Courtney (Baker-Richardson) in the air and (Elliot) Nevitt came on and they couldn’t handle him either.
“These results won’t come if they aren’t willing to work hard during the week and try to emulate that performance again.”
Frustrated Forest Green boss David Horseman said: “Our fans don’t deserve anything like what they witnessed today.
“The manner of the goals we conceded were extremely poor and we really lacked quality today. We’ve made strides but today is a big reality check for sure.
“It’s probably now the time you’re thinking that you can see what happened last season. There is an underlying soft culture, you can see the goal, it’s our fault then suddenly we fold completely.”
International record goalscorer Sinclair to retire after NWSL season
Christine Sinclair, the all-time record goalscorer in international football, will retire at the end of the National Women’s Soccer League in November.
Sinclair, 41, has 190 goals in 331 appearances for Canada, making her the top scorer across both men's and women's football.
She has played for the NWSL's Portland Thorns since 2013, helping them to win the inaugural title that year. She added further league crowns to her collection in 2017 and 2022.
The Canadian great has had similar success with her national team, winning a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is also one of three players to score at five World Cups, alongside Brazil's Marta and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sinclair retired from international football in December 2023, and will now call time on her club career.
"Portland, thank you will never be enough. Soccer has been my passion since I was four years old and it has taken me on a journey I could never have imagined," Sinclair wrote on Instagram.
"As I finish out this last ride, I want to say what a privilege it has been to represent this unique, beautiful, and passionate city that I will always call home."
Dorival calls for patience over Neymar's Brazil return
Brazil head coach Dorival Junior called for Neymar to be given as much time as he needs to make a full recovery from a knee injury before returning to the national side.
Neymar ruptured his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while on international duty last October in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, missing the Copa America as a result.
The 32-year-old underwent surgery and returned to training with Al-Hilal in July, but he is yet to make his comeback, with head coach Jorge Jesus saying this week the Brazilian was not ready.
Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances and is 15 caps shy of breaking Cafu's record for the most outings for the Selecao.
But the forward is again missing from the Brazil squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru next month, with Dorival saying he will wait until the right moment to welcome Neymar back into the fold.
"We'll wait, we'll be patient, it doesn't matter if he can't come back in October, November or even February," Dorival said.
"He needs to be confident, he needs to play and above all he needs to be completely healed from this injury.
"We are starting to realise how important he is.
"If he returns in the coming years, we will have one of the greatest players in world football at a remarkable moment in his career and in our national team."
Dorival recalled Barcelona winger Raphinha and Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli for their upcoming fixtures next month.
Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick were the other attacking options included for the five-time world champions.
Brazil have 10 points from eight qualifiers after losing four of their last five matches, leaving them fifth and just one point above Paraguay, who occupy the play-off spot.
Guardiola declares "war" on Arsenal in escalating rivalry
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City had been "provoked" into a "war" with Arsenal after the two sides drew 2-2 at the Etihad Stadium in a drama-filled clash.
City players John Stones and Kyle Walker suggested the Gunners used the "dark arts" as they sought to defend a 2-1 lead in the second half with 10 men.
Mikel Arteta's men had just one shot and 12.4% possession following the break, after Leandro Trossard had been sent off just before half-time.
While Stones salvaged a point with a late equaliser, Arsenal’s defensive approach led Guardiola to call into question what had previously been a cordial relationship with former protegee Arteta.
"Gabriel [Magalhaes] said it perfectly in the press after the match, so this is a war. We have to provoke the opponent, to push them, and at the end, what can you do? You provoke me, OK, I'm there," the City boss told the media.
"You want a war? Now we war."
Last Sunday's result means City have failed to beat Arsenal in their last four meetings in all competitions.
Arsenal had overturned a 1-0 deficit in the first half after an early Erling Haaland goal to lead 2-1 through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel.
When asked about accusations of the "dark arts", Arteta reflected the claims back on his opponents in reference to the time he spent at City as Guardiola's assistant.
"I was there for four years. I have all the information, so I know, believe me," the Spaniard jibed.
The City boss responded: "Next time Mikel has to be more clear about exactly what he means.
"He said he was here four years and knows exactly what happened here. That can be related to the process now with 115 charges, maybe he knows information about that? Or maybe he had something like, I don't know?
"Hopefully, this question has been asked, and he can answer exactly what he means."
Arteta is still hugely respectful of his former mentor.
"I love him, I respect him, and I admire him. I admire his team and everything that he does," added Arteta.
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