Alex Morris hopes tonight's hard-fought win against a physical Sutton side can go some way to winning back the doubting Thomases.

After heavy defeats at Grimsby in the EFL Cup and at Salford City last Saturday, the Crewe boss had spotted signs of unease among supporters. And the visit of Matt Gray's uncompromising outfit for the first competitive meeting of the two sides provided another testing 90 minutes for Morris' revamped side.

But it was an examination they passed, if not with flying colours, but with a solid pass mark. After Courtney Baker-Richardson's early strike, the Railwaymen never really got into the smooth groove they hit when beating Harrogate.

The visitors were camped in their half for uncomfortably long periods in the second half and had chances to level too. But Morris' men showed some defensive nous and some bravery against a side packed with giant players and securing this narrow win is a pleasing pointer that Crewe won't be wilting in adversity this season.

"There's so much tension among the supporters which is understandable after what they went through last season, so it is important to regain their trust," said Morris.

"It was important to bounce back from our first league defeat. and I was really pleased with the boys as Sutton make it so difficult for you to get any sort of rhythm to your game.

"It is a big win that shows we've got different ways of winning games.

"Courtney was outstanding for us and his performance was everything that you would have asked for from a No.9. He was up against two big, strong lads and he knocked them about and allowed us to get up the pitch."

Dan Agyei was always a threat for the Alex (Pic: Kevin Warburton).

Baker-Richardson had the Alex on track in the 12th-minute of what was his first league start for Crewe. After great work by Dan Agyei on the left, he slid in to finish from close range.

Lachlan Brook almost repeated the trick when Agyei delivered another telling cross, but Rob Milsom blocked the Brentford loanee's strike.

But Sutton showed their physical side when Arthur Okonkwo came off his line and was muscled off the ball by Kwame Thomas in the closing minutes of the first half. Harry Beautyman picked up the loose ball and fired for the top corner, but the midfielder's effort came back off the bar.

It was a let off and there was more to follow in the second half. But first Sutton keeper Jack Rose kept Matt Gray's side in contention when he tipped over a thundering angled effort from Agyei.

On-loan Arsenal youngster Okonkwo thwarted Joe Kizzi's angled blast. But Kizzi really let Crewe off when he headed a late chance over from close range.

Sutton posed a physical threat (Pic; Kevin Warburton).

A dismayed Sutton boss Gray said: "It was so stop-start, but we had a good spell before half time when Harry Beautyman hit the bar and it was more or less complete domination by us of the second half.

"If we'd got a goal I am sure we'd have gone on and got more as we created so many chances in the second half as well as having two very good penalty opportunities. To end up with zero points from two promising performances at Doncaster and Crewe is disappointing."

Celebration time for Agyei, Baker-Richardson and Zac Williams (Pic: Kevin Warburton).