Alex boss gives us his reaction from the Ricoh Arena after superb 3-0 win

Steve Davis praised his Crewe side as they rode a Coventry storm to end up winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final first leg by three goals to nil. Two superb finishes from Brad Inman and a calm finish from AJ Leitch-Smith five minutes from time means it is advantage Crewe going into the second leg at Gresty Road on 20th February.

After the 3-0 win a the Ricoh Arena, Steve told crewealex.net: "We had to ride our luck at time and you need that at times against good sides with a partisan crowd behind them, but he ame plan has worked for us. It doesn't work out all the time but it did tonight. We set out to frustrate them and restrict them having opportunities, they had a lot to be fair and we are realistic with the fact that it could have been different.

"Saying that we defended superbly well and made blocks and interceptions all night. There was some real grit and determination and I can only praise each and every one of them. They put a lot of hard work in this evening to get a  great result against a good team and we know it is only half time in the tie. There is a still a lot to work to be done in the second leg.

"I thought Steve Phillips was excellent. He was magnificent and kept us in it with some outstanding saves. We have scored three exceptional goals and we have that in the team. I didn't think we played as well as we could in attack in the first half but the front four were excellent in the second half. We have the pace of Brad Inman and Byron Moore and the movement of AJ and Chuks can play that through ball.

"Brad's second goal was exceptional. He just kept going and has passed it into the net. AJ has that real quality as well and when he turned inside I knew he would score because he does that in training all the time.

"We had other chances as well. I think Abdul got a nosebleed when he had that diving header in the six yard box and the goalkeeper made a stunning save to tip one over from Chuks.

"It was a great team performance from us and we have a positive result to take into the second leg but there is still a long way to go and we are focussed on Saturday's game at Notts County. That is the most important thing for me because we want to do well in the league."