Alex boss praises his players after controversial spot-kicks

Despite eventually losing 4-2 to Rotherham at the weekend, Alex boss was pleased with the reaction of his players after they conceded a debatable penalty and then missed one of their own at the other end of the pitch.

Defender Mark Ellis was harshly penalised for a ‘trip’ on our former loanee forward Tom Hitchcock and instantly cautioned for the offence that clearly occurred outside of the penalty area. Replays show that Ellis didn’t make contact with the Rotherham forward but it was given and Lee Frecklington drew the home side level at 2-2.

Almost immediately, Crewe were awarded a soft penalty of their own for Addison’s challenge on AJ Leitch-Smith and on this occasion Adam Collin guessed right to push out Harry Davis’ penalty.

The two penalty incidents changed the complexion of the game and barely a couple of minutes later, Alex Revell headed home a splendid Ben Pringle cross to make it 3-2. Crewe rallied to create more decent chances but when pushing on late on, were undone again by a burst from Frecklington.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “I didn’t think either was a penalty really and it was disappointed to concede the one we did. I thought it was an accidental clash between Hitchcock and Ellis and it was certainly outside of the box. I am not even sure that Ellis clipped him.

“The keeper has guessed right to keep Harry’s penalty out. He went the different side to the one he scored on the opening day of the season and a minute later they go up the other end and Revell has headed home a magnificent cross and we find ourselves 3-2 down.

“It could have mentally affected us but I thought we got ourselves going again and had some good chances to have scored again. I didn’t think we got what we deserved on Saturday but I have been pleased with them.

“We are looking a team now and we can carry on playing like that then we will plenty of games. I thought we stood up and be counted and played a part in a good game.”