After another 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank, Dario Gradi was relatively pleased with the way his team defended this afternoon and the way we finished the game strongly. Captain on the day Ashley Westwood went close to making up for his first half mistake with a late effort that was somehow cleared from the line.

Dario told crewealex.net: "It was a hard game and I think it was going to be a hard game against whoever we played this afternoon because of the game against Ipswich on Tuesday. We didn't want extra-time and I know Roy Keane didn't want it either. It was physically draining and we had to go through an extra 30 minutes and got nothing for it.

"Saying that I thought the fitness levels of the players was very good and we finished strongly. One or two of them struggled a bit in the second and were flagging but I still think we had the better chances and curtailed their chances more. We are looking harder to beat and that is encouraging.

"They certainly had a bit of luck at end with Westy's shot. I don't think the defender knew too much about it. It just hit him on the line and they got that break. I also thought Zola's header was in and he did very wel when he came on and Byron went close with his first touch, so there were chances there.

"They are a decent side and it just goes to show how tough this league is. The managers are trying to play a different pattern of play and I don't think we have faced a team playing 4-4-2 yet. They were athletic and organised and that makes it difficult.

"Westy made a mistake for their goal but he will learn from that. When you want to play through midfield you have to accept some mistakes and cannot jump on them when they make a mistake or play a bad pass. He will know and he will learn from that.

"I thought our goal was well worked and Shaun did well to follow it up and get himself in there. It was a poachers goal and I like those type of goals. I like all the goals we score but especially those ones."