Archived News from October 2016
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CREWE MANAGER PREVIEWS GAME
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Boss Welcomes Mansfield Return
crewealex.net, 30th September 2016 Steve set to face Stags for the first time as a manager. Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says he is looking forward to welcoming Mansfield Town back to the Alexandra Stadium for the first time since New Year’s Day 2003. The two teams have been on very different paths since then with Crewe enjoying a promotion in 2012 and a JPT success a year later, while sadly the Stags dropped out of the EFL for a short period. Davis admits that he doesn’t know the Mansfield boss Adam Murray too well, so he is looking forward to a post-match drink after tomorrow’s game. Steve told the club’s official web-site: “It has been a while since we have played Mansfield. I have been here for seven years in total and never faced them, so it is always nice to play a different team and meet a new manager. “I don’t know Adam and it will be good to have a catch up with him. We have watched them and gone through their clips with the players. They have some good players and we are not on it then we will struggle like we did at Wycombe on Tuesday night. Read more at http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/2016-17/boss-welcomes-mansfield-return-3338576.aspx#jHFdYyHgKKOa1lVa.99 “They work hard and although they have struggled to score goals over the last few games, they have an excellent defensive record and are difficult to break down.” --------------- Boss Targets Another Productive Month crewealex.net, 30th September 2016 Steve looks to start October on the front foot against Mansfield. Despite Crewe suffering their second league defeat of the season at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday evening, Steve Davis has been relatively pleased with the start we have made to the new season. The Railwaymen are just outside of the play-off positions on goal difference but remain just a point off second place. Crewe host Mansfield Town this weekend, aiming to bounce back quickly from our 5-1 defeat at Mansfield. Steve told us: “We have had a good month and the results have been good. If we had started the month with a defeat but then collected 10 points everyone would be saying what a great month we have had. “It is October now and we want to do the same again. We have started the season well and we have been pleased. We are still in touch of second and there are a lot of other clubs up there as well. It is still very tight and anyone can beat anyone on their day. Read more at http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/2016-17/boss-targets-another-productive-month-3338427.aspx#AyLjhAuFKwCQ8b0r.99 “We are up there and we have to build on our good start. We are under the radar and I prefer that but we just have to keep picking up points, especially at home.” --------------------- Cannot Let Result Affect Us crewealex.net, 30th September 2016 Clean slate for the Alex on Saturday as we kick off October Steve Davis says that his players cannot let Tuesday night’s heavy defeat affect them. Crewe were surprisingly beaten 5-1 by Wycombe Wanderers and Davis says that we have to use tomorrow’s home game against Mansfield as the perfect way to erase that defeat. Ahead of our weekend meet with the Stags, the Alex boss said: “We were not happy with our defending on Tuesday. We defended too high and Wycombe exposed that and had a plan. They ran in behind and caused us problems but I don’t think anyone saw that result coming. “It was a lesson for us and the players know that if we are not on it in this league then we will get beat. It has come at a good time. There are no easy games in this league and anyone can beat anyone on their day. It doesn’t matter if you are playing Mansfield, Wycombe, Newport or whoever. If you don’t perform to the standard then you are going to have a tough afternoon. “We have to put Tuesday behind us as quickly as possible. We have gone through it with the players on Wednesday and now we move on to Mansfield. That has been our focus this week. Read more at http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/2016-17/cannot-let-result-affect-us-3338313.aspx#c97xw2hcv06YDP0O.99 “We cannot let the result affect us. We want the three points on Saturday and that will keep us right in touch with the top places. He added: “We have made a good start to the season and we have to return to what we were doing well.” ---------------------- Steve: "Defeat Has Hurt Us" crewealex.net, 29th September 2016 Boss says it is important to get Wycombe defeat out of system. Steve Davis has told the club’s official web-site that Tuesday night’s heavy defeat at Wycombe Wanderers ‘has hurt his players’. Crewe suffered a surprising 5-1 defeat to the hands of Gareth Ainsworth’s side and Davis stresses that his players are determined to erase the result with a positive result against Mansfield Town this weekend. The defeat saw Crewe slip out of the play-off places after such a promising start to the season. Steve told crewealex.net: “It was a real off night for everyone and it is one of those results where you have to look forward to the next game. There were not many positives to take from the performance on Tuesday and we know we gave away some silly goals. “We stopped doing what we have been doing and we have to get back to that. It was a very quiet dressing room and it hurt us all because we have been playing well. I don’t think they saw it coming, like the rest of us didn't. Read more at http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/2016-17/steve-defeat-has-hurt-us-3336995.aspx#ibhZmCfuaRkJDoiv.99 "They have been playing with confidence and to a good level. It is our second defeat in 12 games, so we have to bounce back now. He added: “Now we have to go again and make sure we get that out of our system as quickly as we can.” ------------------ Davis: "It's How We Bounce Back" crewealex.net, 29th September 2016 Steve targets three points to make up for Wycombe disappointment. Alex boss Steve Davis says that his players cannot wait to put Tuesday’s performance behind them when Mansfield Town arrive in South Cheshire for our first meeting since New Year’s Day 2003. Crewe were on the receiving end of a surprising5-1 defeat to Wycombe in the week and the Alex boss says the players have to quickly move on from that against the Stags. Ahead of our meeting with Adam Murray’s side, Steve has told the club’s official web-site: “That type of results can happen and they can happen to the best teams in the world. When they do happen it is how you respond to it. We have to move on quickly and get back to doing what we were doing. “We had been on a great run of late and Saturday’s game against Mansfield will give us the chance to put it right. We cannot let the result affect us too badly and the best way to respond will be getting the three points. Read more at http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/2016-17/davis-its-how-we-bounce-back-3337056.aspx#6TRSWYFPj5SjcV3C.99 “We try and win every game. We have lost three points on Tuesday, so the aim is to get three on Saturday. He added to crewealex.net: “We want to put that game behind us and bounce back positively. We have a strong group here, mentally. They have shown that and it will be interesting to see how they do respond against Mansfield this weekend.” ----------------- Crewe Alexandra v Mansfield Town: Sharper Daniel Udoh in the frame for more game time By The Sentinel, September 30, 2016 stokesentinel.co.uk STEVE Davis has praised the work ethic of Daniel Udoh as the rookie forward pushes hard for a first-team spot. Udoh was back on the bench for last Saturday's draw against Blackpool, the first time in more than a month he had been included in a league match-day squad. And his appearance as a substitute at Wycombe on Tuesday was only the second time he has actually appeared on the pitch this season. The 20-year-old has been pushed down the pecking order for places in the early stages of the campaign. But the injury to Alex Kiwomya - plus a string of goal-scoring performances for the under-23s - has presented the youngster with his opportunity. It is his attitude off the pitch, just as much as on it, that has been impressing his manager - and could see him in the frame for another cameo against Mansfield Town tomorrow (3pm). Davis said: “Daniel's starting to score goals without a doubt. Read more at http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/crewe-alexandra-v-mansfield-town-sharper-daniel-udoh-in-the-frame-for-more-game-time/story-29764216-detail/story.html?#yZJdmxIC8ClVYA13.99 “He got his maiden first-team goal at Accrington and also been scoring for the under-23s, becoming a more regular scorer and looked more dangerous and looking like the player we signed. “He looks a lot sharper and fitter, he's been doing a lot of work on his own in the gym and lots of finishing with Daggers (Chris Dagnall) and Lowey (Ryan Lowe) which certainly seems to be helping. “He looks like he's improving now and he's probably been the next one in. “When we've picked the squad he's probably been the 19th man and been a bit unfortunate. “Him and Ryan Wintle have been that unfortunate player, but with the injuries we've had, that can open a door for them." Udoh has made just one league start for the Alex since joining from Evo-Stik League side Ilkeston back in March. That start came on the day Crewe were relegated to League Two, in the 3-0 defeat at Port Vale on April 9. Since then, he scored in the pre-season win at Buxton Town, as well as at Kidsgrove Athletic, before netting in the 3-0 Checkatrade Trophy win at Accrington on August 30. That goal on his 20th birthday was his first in professional football, and his next opportunity to play in the first team could come in that competition. Crewe host Wolves under-23s on Tuesday, their second Checkatrade Trophy group game. Udoh revealed that the competition is likely to provide him with the best chance of making his breakthrough this season. He said: “For me, it will probably be the most important competition. “I have to take as much as I can from it this year, and if I can break through to play some league games I will be happy with that. “If I don't then I will have to learn from this and take it in to next year, but I will always keep trying to do my best." Udoh was involved in the build-up to George Cooper's goal at Wycombe, although that was just a consolation in the 5-1 defeat. Davis is keen to prove it was just an aberration to a strong start to the season. He said: “It was the second defeat in 10. The players had been playing with confidence and the levels they had set themselves have been really high. “They were really quiet at full time, even the senior players. Defeats like that hurt us all - and the supporters as well. I felt sorry for the fans who had gone a distance to watch us and we hadn't delivered. “These results do happen to everyone at some point during a season and it's how you respond and recover that is important. You have to do it in the next game. “We have to put it right quickly, get back to what we were doing well and try to get three points." ---------------- Crewe Alexandra: Steve Davis - We have to stick to the game plan By PeteSmith, September 29, 2016, stokesentinel.co.uk STEVE Davis says his side's Wycombe whipping emphasises the importance of getting the basics right in defence. Crewe had only conceded nine goals in nine games to open the League Two season before going down 5-1 in Buckinghamshire. Davis has been working hard to plug a back line that had shipped 83 goals last term and hopes that result hammers home the message of sticking to the plan. He said: “I didn't see that kind of heavy beating coming at any point this season, and I said that after the game to them, because we've been defending so well. “What we didn't do at Wycombe was stick to what we've been doing. Read more at http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/crewe-alexandra-steve-davis-we-have-to-stick-to-the-game-plan/story-29762991-detail/story.html#1roXmz37iLtPykhZ.99 “We didn't stick to our patterns and force them one way or get the timing of the line right. We were dropping too late and they kept getting in behind us. “The midfield didn't really protect well. It was one of those nights that it was difficult to really pick out any positives. “But listen, I can't fault the players about what they have been doing this season up to that game. They have been working hard, playing to a certain way and doing it well. “The time we didn't, we got a heavy defeat." Wycombe, who have been struggling with injuries, had only scored seven times in the league before kick-off but they were too ruthless for the Alex. Davis said: “I wouldn't take any credit away from Wycombe. They had a game plan and stuck to it very well. “The space was between the lines because they were pressing high up the pitch, but we found it hard to get into the areas we have been getting into." The midweek capitulation was a spoke in the wheel for a Crewe side which has been difficult to beat on their return to the basement division. Davis hopes it will prove to be just a bad night at the office, but struggled to hide his frustration even if no-one is reading too much into slipping out of the play-off spots at this stage of the campaign. He said: “It's very difficult to find any positives. We conceded two silly goals early on and then didn't recover. It could have been worse than it was. “We had a lot of possession without any thrust and their football was longer and proved more effective than ours. They were well drilled and difficult to get through. A lot of their chances came from their keeper's long kicks and we couldn't cope. “It was a real off day for everyone and I don't think anybody came out with any credit. It was a real disappointment." JAMES Jones has been called for Scotland under-21s for the first time. The Alex midfielder will feature in European Championship qualifiers at Iceland (October 5) and Macedonia (October 11). It means the 20-year-old will miss Crewe's Checkatrade Trophy clash with Wolves under-23s and the League Two trip to Luton Town. ------------------- |
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