Crewe 0-3 Leicester

Leicester signed off their League One campaign in style with a classy 3-0 win over Crewe at Gresty Road on Saturday.

Unfortunately the victory condemned Crewe to relegation from League One, where they will be joined by Hereford, Cheltenham and Northampton in League Two next season.

Second half goals from Bruno Berner, Lloyd Dyer and Matty Fryatt were enough to hand Leicester a comfortable win, in what we hope will be the club’s last ever game in English football’s third tier.

In a nutshell, Crewe had to win against the champions to have any chance of staying up, and it was always going to be an uphill struggle against Nigel Pearson’s team. However, they began the game brightly, claiming some positive early possession.

Billy Jones forced the first save of the match from a free-kick, with David Stockdale equal to it in the Leicester goal.

Leicester right back Michael Morrison, recent two goal hero in the team’s 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe, seemed to have formed a taste for goal as he forced a save from Steve Collis with his rasping drive from 30 yards.

In general the first half was a rather drab affair, with neither side particularly forcing a substantial amount of play. Crewe certainly didn’t have the urgency of a side requiring a win to save themselves.

Crewe forced some pressure through Marlon Broomes following a corner, but his strike was well blocked by Leicester captain Matt Oakley. At the other end Matty Fryatt was twice denied by Collis to keep the score goalless.

Steve Howard, recently unanimously voted the club’s player of the season, was guilty of some rather suspect finishing throughout the match as Collis was rarely tested by the big striker.

Leicester were beginning to take control of the game as the half wore on, but couldn’t find a breakthrough as the game remained goalless at the break.

HALF TIME: CREWE 0-0 LEICESTER

The second half was a different story altogether, but the Foxes were not allowed to escape without a scare as Crewe’s James Bailey thumped the crossbar early after the re-start.

However, this proved to be the catalyst for Pearson’s men as they did find the breakthrough almost immediately after. Bruno Berner picked the ball up 25-yards out before lashing a perfect shot into the bottom corner to give the Foxes the lead.

GOAL: CREWE 0-1 LEICESTER (BERNER, 56)

Max Gradel replaced Joe Mattock shortly after Berner’s strike, as the goalscorer was switched to left back.

It wasn’t long before Leicester had their second through Lloyd Dyer 10 minutes later. The winger bustled through the heart of Alex’s defence before lifting his shot over Collis following an initial effort which was blocked.

GOAL: CREWE 0-2 LEICESTER (DYER, 66)

The second goal proved to be the final nail in Crewe’s coffin as it soon became clear that they were never going to find a way back into the game, thus resigning themselves to League Two football next season.

To rub salt into the home side’s already large wounds, top goalscorer Matty Fryatt polished off his 32nd goal of the season for Leicester’s thrid of the match. The striker dribbled his way through the Alex defence before finishing delightfully past Collis to fittingly end his season.

GOAL: CREWE 0-3 LEICESTER (FRYATT, 68)

The third goal all but killed off the match as neither side pushed for the game’s fourth goal. Crewe were well beaten, with their victors content with their three goal margin.

Leicester were in complete control as they finally ended their victorious season in style, winning League One by a comfortable 7 points. For Crewe, a season in League Two awaits, and we wish them luck in their future endeavours.

Leicester: Stockdale, Morrison, Hobbs, Brown, Mattock (Gradel 57), Oakley (c), King (Ajdarevic 72), Berner, Dyer (Adams 80), Howard, Fryatt.

Subs not used: Warner, Dickov.

Crewe: Collis, Jones, O’Donnell, Elding (Pope 63), Miller, Bailey (Murphy 77), McManus (Moore 57), Brayford, Lawrence (c), Broomes, Sigurdsson.

Subs not used: Tomlinson, Zola.

Att: 6,982 (2,140 away)