Boss welcomes defensive headache of selection
Manager Steve Davis says arguably his most consistent centre-halves George Ray and Harry Davis have a fight on their hands to displace Adam Dugdale and Mark Ellis from the starting line-up if they can continue performing as well as they did away at Preston North End.
Ray was away on International duty with the Wales Under-21s, while Davis was ruled out with knee injury but with both pressing for a recall, the competition for places is back to its best at the back.
Steve Davis has being trying to find the right blend and combinations to get back to winning ways and Dugdale and Ellis showed real promise as a partnership after helping the club record their first clean-sheet of the season in the league at Deepdale. That competition is what the gaffer has been striving for all season.
Steve told crewealex.net: “I want whoever plays to do well for the club. I think I’ve been fair to all the players, they have all had a chance. I think the only one who hasn’t played who has been fit is young Billy (Waters) so no-one can complain that they haven’t had a chance to show that they should be the team.
“I’ve said all along that they assessed all the time, in training, in reserve games in the Under-21s. We look at them all the time and if someone has done well in training or in a particular game then they get chance here.
“I don’t mind if it is George Harry, Mark or Duggy. If they deserve to play then they will. When they get an opportunity they have to come in and take it and do as well they can.
“Duggy and Mark looked strong at Preston. They were mobile and looked a good partnership. They haven’t shown that as much before so that was a real positive.
“Mark has found it hard to find some form this season. He has struggled at times but we have spoken to him and he went back to basics at Preston and defended well. It was the same with Duggy, he went to Tranmere to get some games and that has improved his fitness and sharpness.
“There is real competition there and that is what we need.”