Steve Davis says getting the first goal is proving decisive as Crewe try to end winless streak.

Steve Davis has told the club’s official web-site that his Crewe Alexandra side need to try and get ahead in games because the opposition are prepared to shut-up-shop against us, especially when they manage to get ahead. The Alex slipped to their first home defeat of the season on Saturday with Yeovil scoring the only goal of the game from a free-kick.

It proved to be a set-back with Crewe missing the chance to move back into the top seven but with things still very tight in League Two, Davis believes that his team are more than capable of being genuine contenders for promotion.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “There were still a lot of positives to take from Saturday’s game. We created enough chances to be a goal or two goals ahead at half-time and the first half performance was decent.

“We limited them to two or three shots in the game and I couldn’t see them scoring until we gave away a silly free-kick. I thought it was the only way they would score, from a set-play or corner.

“I was disappointed with how the second half went for us. We didn’t play as well in the second half and we lost our way a bit but we didn’t let them get in behind us and have chances. Daggers also hit the crossbar again with a header as we went in search of an equaliser.

“We had gone a goal up then it would have been completely different because they would have to come out more and Crewe are good at exploiting those gaps.

“When a team gets ahead against us they don’t give you any space. They are content to play for a 1-0 or even a 1-1 and that makes things difficult for any side you play against, regardless of what league you are in.

Steve added: “That has surprised me about this league. Teams are content to sit on a 1-0 and not come out and try and score again. They are setting up against us to be hard to beat and it is up to us to find a way around that and get the advantage of the first goal.”