Winger lifted his performance in second half to help Crewe to victory

Steve Davis says he demanded more from the on-loan Fulham winger ‘Mesca’ at half-time at Colchester United and got the desired response from him in the second period.

Mesca conceded the foul that led to Colchester’s opening goal with Luke Garbutt’s effort striking him in the defensive wall to wrong foot Ben Garratt.

Mesca struggled to make the impact he would have wanted in the first half with one tame effort not troubling Sam Walker in the Colchester goal, but the 20-year-old got himself going after a pep talk from the gaffer. 

Steve told crewealex.net: “I thought we took the game to Colchester in the second half and we got our just reward. We battled hard for the result and kept getting those second balls and causing them some problems. We managed to score two quick goals and that killed it. The lads worked really hard to change that luck around.

“I spoke to Mesca at half-time and just asked more from him. I knew we could get more from him. He was a little tired because he won’t be used to playing so many games in a short space of time. He is used to playing in the development league and every player will feel it playing games in a short space of time.

“We thought about replacing him but he got himself going. He ran at the full-back, carried the ball up the pitch for us and got in behind. He became a thorn in their side and got some crosses over. I was pleased that he got himself going like he did.”