Crewe boss Steve Davis was pleased with the way his young side showed they could mix it up in their play-off first-leg win over Southend.
We're playing the right way, says Crewe manager
Crewe boss Steve Davis was pleased with the way his young side showed they could mix it up in their play-off first-leg win over Southend.
The Railwaymen will take a slender 1-0 lead to Roots Hall thanks to Adam Dugdale's second-half header from a set-piece.
It was an uncharacteristic goal for Crewe to score given their obvious commitment to passing football and Davis was happy with the efforts of his young side.
"I thought we edged the game first half and couldn't get that breakthrough," he told
Sky Sports.
"I thought they came out a bit better in the second half, had a few chances but we had a few chances of our own and are delighted to take that goal.
"We've just tried to mix it up a little bit more, be more resilient and better defensively. Try to pressurise teams and win the ball back quicker when we lose it.
"We've tried to improve our set-plays which we've never been very good at but we've got one today so I'm pleased about that."
While Crewe came out stroking the ball around, Southend appeared content to look long towards veteran striker Neil Harris and late substitute Freddy Eastwood.
It nearly reaped dividends as Ryan Leonard, another substitute, peppered the Crewe goal with long-throws but the home side held firm.
Contrasting
And Davis insisted his team were always going to do things their way.
He added: "It was contrasting styles wasn't it? We're not going to change how we play, we've got lads who were brought up from the age of seven, eight, nine, to play the right way - to play skilful, attacking football.
"So we're playing to our strengths and they're playing to their strengths. I was pleased with our performance."
Asked if it was tough to expect his young players to play under pressure, Davis said: "That was always going to be the test. How they went about the situation of the play-offs.
"They are young. There's 10 of them out there who haven't had that experience and will have benefited from today."
Crewe must travel to Roots Hall now and finish the job but Davis knows it will not be easy as that was the last place his side were beaten, back in February.
Even so, he is happy with how the tie is poised.
Davis said: "They could have nicked a couple so I think we're happy with 1-0. There could have been more goals but we're happy with what we're taking there on Wednesday.
"We've done the job here but we've still got a difficult game coming up. I know it's going to tough because we struggled up there last time.
"We've still got a lot to do so we're not getting carried away, that's for sure."
