Crewe boss Steve Davis spoke to his club’s official website ahead of his side’s League One match against Carlisle at Gresty Road tomorrow afternoon, Davis looking forward to the game after the Alex’ won 2-1 away to Colchester on Sunday:
“The players have worked hard and hopefully we are reaping the rewards with the performances. I think we have improved and we can further improve. When you have a comeback like we did against Colchester then you cannot wait for the next game to come along. We have Carlisle at home on New Years’ Day and we are all looking forward to it.
“It will be another tough game because Graham Kavanagh has done well since taking over and got them playing. They had a terrific home win over Peterborough on Sunday, so we know how good they can be on their day. But, we have found all season than anybody can beat anybody and we have to go into the game with greater confidence and a positive result could see us bring more clubs into it.
“Coming back at Colchester and getting the three points will only give the club a lift and restore some confidence. It is the first time we have been able to come back to win a game this season so it should give them belief. You can sense the lift it has given them. The dressing room was bouncing afterwards on Sunday and it was a good feeling to have. There is none better than winning football matches. It was a great atmosphere.
“It is amazing what a positive result and performance can do and now they have to keep that going. I have been pleased with the response we have had since the Port Vale game. We haven’t always got the results we have deserved and I don’t think the luck has been totally with us on occasions, but I cannot fault their effort.
"We have to start getting results. And it was vital that we got something from the game at Colchester after losing at Wolves on Boxing Day. It is great for the confidence. Now we can't wait for the Carlisle game. It is amazing what a result can do and this has to be a turning point for us. Tom Hitchcock has been terrific for us as well. He has scored three goals in four games and you cannot ask for more than that."
In team news for the Railwaymen tomorrow they will firstly be without on-loan Manchester City midfielder George Evans, who serves a one-game suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign, while striker Max Clayton looks likely to be out for the season having undergone successful surgery to pin his ankle after breaking it in an FA Cup replay in November.
Meanwhile midfielder Ollie Turton Ollie Turton is still on the fitness comeback trail due to medial ligament damage in his knee, but in better news for Crewe boss Davis he has two absentees back available for selection. Striker, and last season’s Alex top scorer Mathias Pogba having been out since July following a knee cartilage operation while winger Ryan Colclough makes his return after a troublesome four months fighting abdominal problems.
The referee for tomorrow afternoon’s match is RAF Sergeant Darren Drysdale who is based at Waddington in Lincolnshire and he will be assisted down the lines by Michael Salisbury from Penwortham in Lancashire and Jason Tyas from Honley in West Yorkshire. Meanwhile the fourth official is Paul Hodskinson from Preston.