Boss says conceding needless free-kicks and corners have proved costly to us this season

Steve Davis has reinforced to his players that they have to prevent giving away unnecessary free-kicks and corners after it cost us dearly at Barnsley last weekend. The Crewe Alexandra boss and his coaching staff went through the entire 90 minutes of the defeat at Oakwell on Monday to highlight the number of needless free-kicks we conceded.

Both Barnsley’s goals came from set-piece and Davis is also aware that a free-kick conceded at Swindon back in August allowed them to break the deadlock back in August. Swindon went on to win the game 2-0.

Davis was infuriated by the fact that both of Barnsley’s goals came from a free-kick delivered into our box and then from a goalkeeping mistake from a corner.

Ahead of the meeting with Mark Cooper’s Swindon side, the Alex boss said: “We went through the DVD with them because we were disappointed with the overall performance and especially the goals we conceded. They came from our mistakes.

“We conceded an unnecessary free-kick and then gave away a silly corner and they have managed to score from both of them.

“We have told them to stop conceding needless free-kicks and corners if they can. We need to avoid doing that because set plays are a big part of the game and it cost us some points last weekend. I couldn’t see Barnsley scoring unless it was from a set play.

“I warned them at half-time not to give free-kicks away and then Granty fouled his man and then Marcus, in trying to help us out, has given a corner away needlessly. They hurt us from those deliveries going into our box and I was disappointed with the way we defended both of them.

Steve added: “We have done some work on it and it is those small details and being aware on the pitch that can help us improve.”