City were up to the task and both teams produced an exciting game. City should have been in front at half time. The Bluebirds were more threatening and created several chances, the best of which saw a Graham Kavanagh rising shot smash against the cross bar.
Crewe stunned the home support when they took a 47th minute lead. Rob Hulse broke through and put his shot into the Canton End net despite Alexander getting a touch on the ball.
The game was slipping away from City, many chances were created but Clayton Ince in the Crewe goal had hands like glue. He took cross after cross and saved shot after shot although most were straight at him. The best save came from a Graham Kavanagh toe poke that looked to be sneaking under the big keeper.
Ince could do nothing about the first time Earnshaw put the ball in the net but the linesman's flag ruuled the goal offside.
City though never gave up and on 84 mins Earnie supplied the perfect finish after Rhys Weston reached the bye line and pulled the ball back. City fans went mental. Two minutes later in manner Roy of the Rovers would have been proud of we'd scored again. Earnshaw on hand to score what turned out to be the winner. Crewe were beaten, the remaining 4 mins of normal time and the 5 mins played of injury time saw some pressure from Crewe but not much. Leo and Layton Maxwell sensibly took the ball to the corners and the erruption of noise at the final whistle made the hairs on the back of your neck stick up.
The win has kept City top of the table just ahead of Q.P.R., Wigan and Oldham who all won today.
Sam Hammam and Russell Goodway exchanged the contracts for City's new stadium at half time. Both men were joined on the pitch by several flag bearers.
Now the small matter of Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday and then the big one against Wigan next Saturday.