Boss says time for others to step up to the plate after top scorer's red card

Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis has told the club’s official web-site that it will be huge loss not to have the suspended Chuks Aneke for three games. Aneke was dismissed on the stroke of half-time for an alleged elbow on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ defender Richard Stearman. Aneke is adamant that he didn’t catch the centre-half with his elbow and that he only had eyes for the ball. 

Wolves had just taken the lead through Kevin McDonald’s deflected effort and went on to win the game 2-0 and clinch promotion.

Davis is hugely disappointed that the club will be missing their leading scorer for three of our final four games, but says that it will an opportunity for others to step up to the plate.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “I didn’t see the incident clearly and only realised that he had been sent-off when we got back into the dressing room. There was that delay and someone came in and told me that he had been sent-off.

“I had to quickly sort out how we were going to play in the second half. I took George (Evans) off because he had been booked for that tackle and we certainly couldn’t afford to lose two. Liam (Nolan) came on and sat in front of the back four and Granty pushed on.

“We left the two wingers on for their pace and to see if they could get us up the pitch, so we played with 4-2-3 and I couldn’t fault their effort at all. We kept the scoreline respectable playing the best team in the league with ten men.

“I am hugely disappointed that we will be without Chuks for three of our last four games. It is a big loss to us and he will be difficult to replace and fill that void.

“Chuks has been outstanding and has done everything he possibly can to keep this club in this division. He certainly hasn’t shirked the responsibility and now it will be for others to step up to the challenge and show that.

 “I am gutted for Chuks because he has worked so hard all season for us.”