Spurs loanee J’Neil Bennett completed the whole of Crewe Alexandra’s 2-0 League One win over Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon. It was a home debut to remember for the 19 year old, who was involved in the opening goal for Crewe, before then scoring his first goal at senior level, late on in the game. Bennett started the match at The Mornflake Stadium out on the left flank, and his first real involvement in the game came fairly early on. After receiving the ball on the left flank the winger went past Burton defender John Brayford before finding Scott Robertson on the edge of the Burton penalty area. However, the ball eventually ended up coming back to Bennett, who managed to find a teammate who came close to scoring the opening goal of the game. A couple of minutes later J’Neil found another teammate inside the Burton box, with a good cross. However, his teammate was marginally offside when he headed the ball just over the goal. Bennett played a big part in Crewe’s opening goal of the game, in the tenth minute of the match. After receiving Callum Ainley’s pass Bennett entered the left side of the Burton box, he then tried his luck on goal with a low effort, but it took a big deflection off of Michael Bostwick before going into the back of the net.

I noticed during the opening stages of the match that J’Neil was pressing well, staying high whenever the opposition had corner kicks and also switching flanks on occasions. A good run from the Spurs man down the left came to an end when John Brayford managed to win the ball, but then a matter of moments later Bennett had an effort blocked by Burton defender Conor Shaughnessy, after cutting inside from the left flank. Then after again cutting inside onto his right foot he tried his luck with an effort on goal from the edge of the Burton box, but goalkeeper Ben Garratt comfortably saved his effort, as it came at him in a fairly central position. Just before the end of the first half Bennett had a cross cleared from the left flank. At the beginning of the second half J’Neil ended up receiving a pass from Callum Ainley down the left flank. He then worked his way into the Burton penalty area before whipping in a promising cross right across the face of the Burton goal. Burton had a man sent off in the 67th minute of the game. A good run down the left flank by Bennett ended in him knocking the ball past John Brayford and then passing the ball to a teammate, but the move then ended up coming to an end despite showing promise. A teammate then played a free-kick short to Bennett on the left flank, and he then skilfully went past Jonny Smith, before having a low cross cleared.

A lofted pass from Josh Lundstram to Bennett on the left flank saw him go on a really good forward run. Bennett eventually cut inside into the Burton box, before then hitting a low effort on goal, which went past goalkeeper Ben Garratt and into the back of the net to win the game for Crewe, and it clearly meant a lot to him. J’Neil made a really good impact on today’s game, he was very direct with the ball and worked hard off the ball.