Campbell puts paid to Crewe's dreams

Crewe Alexandra 1 Everton

Dario Gradi's promise that his struggling First Division side had the capacity to create another crisis in Everton's rocky season looked as though it might just be borne out after Crewe took a deserved lead in last night's fifth-round FA Cup replay at Gresty Road. This was one storm the Premiership side were able to weather, however, and after Tomasz Radzinski had equalised before half-time, Kevin Campbell delivered the decisive moment with 20 minutes left to book Walter Smith's team a trip to Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals.

Crewe had not been flattered to survive a goalless draw at Goodison Park when the sides first met, producing a disciplined, defensive performance that stifled Everton so effectively they were barely able to muster a worthwhile shot. Indeed, Gradi's youthful team went closest to snatching a victory when the striker Rob Hulse shot against the woodwork in the second half.

Despite a recent downturn in their league form, threatening Crewe's future in the First Division, they did not lack confidence last night either. The manner in which they attacked Everton in the opening half was certainly not that of a side that had conceded 12 goals in their last three home games.

Liberated from the tensions of trying to gather league points, they felt free to express their attacking instincts and were willing to test Steve Simonsen's nerves from any distance, forcing the Everton goalkeeper into an early fumble when Dean Ashton unleashed a low shot from 25 yards, with Hulse almost first to the rebound.

After an optimistic appeal for a penalty that had been turned down, it was no real surprise, given the balance of play, when the home side went ahead after 25 minutes. A loss of possession by Mark Pembridge near the halfway line was at the root of the build-up but, as Ashton bore down on Simonsen's goal, the 19-year-old forward still needed a cool head. To the delight of the home crowd, he was equal to the moment, slotting the ball home as calmly as a veteran.

Their tails up, Crewe almost added a second three minutes later when Hulse raced past David Weir in pursuit of David Vaughan's through ball only to direct his shot narrowly wide.

Suddenly, Everton clawed their way back and moments before half-time drew level when Crewe's defensive positioning let them down. Pembridge, who had gone close with a 20-yard shot as he sought to atone for his costly mistake, crossed from the right and found Radzinski unmarked at the far post to nod home a simple equaliser.

The goal set Crewe back on their heels for the first time in the match. Nonetheless, Smith still chose to make a significant change at half-time. Having already decided that this was not a night for Paul Gascoigne, who did not merit even a place on the bench, he took off David Ginola, ineffective in the opening 45 minutes, in favour of the more combative Thomas Gravesen. Meanwhile, he lost a left-back, Gary Naysmith, through injury. However, there was no subduing the home side, Hulse almost restoring their lead with a flicked, close-range header that was cleared off the line by Pembridge.

With the prospect of extra time looming, the game needed a moment of inspiration to tip the balance. It came with 20 minutes remaining when Campbell shook off his marker with a feint and turn after receiving Radzinski's cross, then sent a sharp, low shot zipping into the corner of the Crewe goal.

Crewe Alexandra:(4-4-2) Ince; Wright, Walton, Sodje, Smith; Lunt (Rix, 79), Brammer (Sorvel, 65), Vaughan (Jack, 74), Collins; Ashton, Hulse. Substitutes not used: Bankole (gk), Foster.

Everton:(4-4-2) Simonsen; Clarke, Naysmith (Unsworth, h-t), Stubbs, Weir; Ginola (Gravesen, h-t), Pembridge, Gemmill, Alexandersson; Radzinski, Campbell (Linderoth, 81). Substitutes not used: Gerrard (gk), Blomqvist.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).