Dave Artell hails Nicky Hunt’s versatility following Crewe’s win over Swindon

Posted Wednesday, October 03, 2018 by PA

Nicky Hunt was thanked by boss Dave Artell for stepping into an unfamiliar central defensive role and helping Crewe to another clean sheet at Gresty Road as they beat Swindon 1-0.

While the Railwaymen have struggled on their travels this term they have only conceded one league goal in front of their own fans and they managed to shut out Swindon despite fielding a makeshift back four.

Charlie Kirk netted his third goal of the campaign to cap an exciting individual performance but Artell lavished praise on former Bolton defender Hunt’s role in Crewe’s first win in four league games.

Hunt, 35, covered superbly at centre-half after Perry Ng failed a fitness test and Artell revealed: “We didn’t know Perry was going to be out as he had rolled his ankle in training and we thought the fitness test would be a formality.

“Michael Raynes had played in the Under-23s game yesterday, so he couldn’t play again. I asked Nicky how often he had played centre-half and he said he’d only played there for half a season with Orient and a few other times.

“But he should play there more often as he was terrific, that is what experience gets you. He was always in the right place and he looked like he’d been playing there for 35 years.”

Hunt helped restrict Swindon to long-distance shooting in the first half during which Kirk was the stand-out player, with his surging running causing havoc on the left. He pounced after Callum Ainley’s initial effort was blocked, driving in off the post after 30 minutes.

Luke McCormick used his chest to keep out what looked like a certain second when Ainley volleyed first time towards the top corner after the break.

But Swindon boss Phil Brown was quick making his three changes and one of them – Ellis Iandolo – went agonisingly close to grabbing a late equaliser when he cut in and fired onto the foot of the post.

“We needed a win more than anything,” admitted Artell, “although the irony is we played better on Saturday when we lost. But we looked most likely to score and I will take a 1-0.

“Swindon’s midfield three are excellent and Marc Richards is a handful, but he was off the pitch after 60 minutes which is credit to our defenders.

“I thought Kirky was terrific.”

Swindon boss Brown said he was worried about his side’s lack of an edge.

“We huffed and puffed and our work in the final third is causing me a lot of concern as one or two players are freezing and clear-cut chances are not falling for us,” said Brown.

“I don’t think we applied ourselves in the right manner mentally. Marc Richards needs a run of games where he is getting chances, but he fluffed his lines a couple of times in the first half.

“We missed also the influence of Matty Taylor (who was suspended) and Kirk caused us a lot of problems down the left in the first half.”