Steve says his young players can learn from Villa's approach

Steve Davis is hoping Aston Villa’s ‘exhibition of football’ on Friday night will inspire his side to become better. Crewe Alexandra were on the receiving end of a master class of possession football and clinical finishing as Paul Lambert’s side romped into a 4-0 lead at Gresty Road. The towering Belgian International Christian Benteke scored three of those goals to set-up a 5-1 win.

Davis was as impressed with Villa’s performance, as disappointed as he was by his own side’s first half showing.

Steve told crewealex.net: “There was an obvious gulf in class in that first half and it was a harsh lesson for us. Every mistake we made was punished and their finishing was clinical. At times it was a really exhibition from them and there were some really talented young players out there.

“They are where they and we are where we are. If our young players want to aspire to reach that level then they have to work really hard. They cannot settle for what they are now. They have to work hard to improve.

“They have to be out on the training ground and practice all the time. They have to push themselves to be better. That is what Ashley Westwood did. He worked hard to get that level and he has improved considerably as well since he went to Aston Villa.

  “You could see the improvement in him, he has just gone there and got better through hard work.”