Crewe goalkeeper says belief in the camp continues to grow
Experienced goalkeeper Steve Phillips has told the club’s official web-site that if someone had offered us a mid-table position in January and a place in the Area Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, we would have snapped their hands off. Crewe are handily placed to make a concerted effort for the top six whilst also having an area final against Coventry City to look forward to.
Steve, who featured in a previous final for Bristol Rovers, says that our progress in the Football League Trophy will not affect our league form because of the competition it creates for places.
Steve told the club’s official web-site: “The season looks good for us at the moment. If we assess where we are in the league and the fact that we have an area final to look forward to in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, I think that if someone offered us that at the start of the season, we would have snapped their hands off.
“I don’t think the players or the staff are surprised how well we have done because there is a massive belief at this club. We believed we could have a successful season and we are placed to do that.
“From the outside, with us coming through the play-offs last season and losing Westy and Powelly to Premiership clubs, combined with the budget we have, those on the outside looking in may have thought it was going to be a struggle for us.
“Success breeds success. We have had a taste of it and you do want more. I had it in my career with previous clubs and it drove me on to have it again. Some of these young lads have tasted promotion and playing at a fantastic stadium at Wembley, so it is there for them.
“We have two great games to look forward to against a very tough opponent in Coventry City. There should be two great atmospheres for the two legs and the prize to get through is huge. We have treated the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as a good chance to play at Wembley again and it has now got really serious.
“We look forward to that and it won’t distract from our league games, because the squad is good here and the manager has shown that he will change things around if players don’t perform.”