Boss says Crewe will be a different proposition to the side that lost twice to Rochdale earlier this season

Steve Davis expects his Crewe Alexandra side to be a different proposition when we face Keith Hill’s Rochdale side this evening.

Dale have already inflicted two defeats on the Alex both at Gresty Road. Rochdale defeated us 5-2 in League One back in August and then 3-0 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first round in early September.

Crewe Alexandra’s form has improved considerably from the beginning of the season and Davis is hoping his side can acquire a positive result from our trip to Spotland this evening.

Ahead of tonight’s game, Steve told the club’s official web-site: “Rochdale made a really good start to the season and they were very energetic and athletic against us early in the season. We couldn’t live with that in our two previous meetings but we have improve.

“I would expect us to cope a lot better with that and cause them some problems at the other end of the pitch. We will go there looking to get a result.

“I watched them and seen their clips. They were very unlucky not to get something out of the game at Bristol City at the weekend. They had some good chances that they just couldn’t take on the day and it could have been very different. They could have achieved a point or even won the game.

“They have had a dip of form from what they were achieving at the start of the season, but they are a good side and we expect another tough game.”