Alex’ boss Steve Davis spoke to his club’s official website ahead of his side’s League One match against Carlisle at Brunton Park this evening, Davis hoping for a similar display to Crewe’s 2-1 defeat at home to Port Vale last weekend:
“We don’t want Saturday to be a one off in terms of the performance. It was the attitude and performance we have been looking for and I thought we were a bit unfortunate not to get a point for our efforts. I don’t think anyone could fault the players for their attitude or effort, but we need that every week. It shouldn’t take a derby game to get us up and running. We need to produce that determination every week. If we can then we have a chance in every game we play in.
“Going to Carlisle is always a tough place to go. We always seem to play them on a Tuesday night as well, and I don’t know why that is. Graham Kavanagh is a fighter. He was also a decent player and will have his team trying to play like he did. I played against him while he was at Stoke and he played with his heart on his sleeve, so it won't be easy for us. It is never easy there and we have to play like we did for the first 40 minutes against Port Vale and keep that going for a longer period.After what we saw from them on Saturday, we can go there with renewed confidence.
“The players are aware we are in a fight and we have it all to do, the staff, the players - we all have to be better at what we do. You have to be patient with the younger players but if they are doing well then they play. That has always been the case at this club. It is what Crewe are all about and that will be the case regardless of the situation.
“If we think they are good enough and can handle it then we play them. The younger ones get a chance here and they know that coming through the Academy.In many ways they are having to show that character and fight that is perhaps not associated with players of that age, but if they can cope with it and are fighting there alongside the rest of us then they will get a chance.”
In team news for the Railwaymen this evening they look to have five players missing through illness and injury this evening. First up winger Ryan Colclough is set to be sidelined as he is suffering from a heavy cold, while centre-half George Ray is out with a short-term hamstring problem and midfielder Ollie Turton is absent until around mid-December due to medial ligament damage in his knee.
More long-term striker Max Clayton looks likely to be out for the season having undergone successful surgery to pin his ankle after breaking it in last Tuesday’s FA Cup replay defeat against Wycombe. Fellow frontman Mathias Pogba on the other hand is now back in light training after having a knee cartilage operation in July following a pre-season friendly injury against Manchester United.
Finally, another pair of players missing tonight will be two summer signings in midfielder Brad Inman and winger Anthony Grant, the duo having been axed for last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Port Vale, with boss Steve Davis commenting: “Their attitude has to improve and for now they are not in my thoughts for the first-team. They haven't been working as hard as we'd like and that has been a disruption to the rest of the group. So you have to deal with it, there is no point in it going on and on.”
The referee for this evening's match is Andy Haines from Sunderland and he will be assisted down the lines by Martin Coy from Darlington and David Storrie from Leeds. Meanwhile the fourth official is Glen Hart from Darlington.