Crewe hit on the break late on as they chase the game after conceding early

Steve Davis says the first goal was going to be all-important in an anxious bottom-of-the-table clash and with Notts County getting it after just 10 minutes, in an attempt to chase the game, the Alex were hit twice on the counter-attack in the closing stages. Crewe probably didn't deserve to be 3-0 down but credit must go to Notts County for their work ethic and clinical finishing in South Cheshire.

“The manner we conceded all of the goals was disappointing – two counter attacks and a set play. We tried to play football and we haven’t had enough in the final third. I’ve said it many times this season where we haven’t had enough quality to hurt them."
 

“They cut through us far too easily for the second and third goals on the counter attack after we were all forward.
 

“I thought we were slow first half, the last 15-20 minutes we livened up and started to attack and cause us more problems. At half-time we talked about taking that on in the second-half, but we huffed and puffed and had a lot of possession in the final third. We played a lot more football than we did against Oldham, but we still couldn’t create.
 

“We gave a silly free-kick away. We talked about not giving them away because of Alan Sheehan’s quality and the second phase caught us out again on the back post, so it wasn’t an ideal start because it meant that they could sit back because they’d got something to hang on to and defend. But likewise if we had got the first goal it would’ve been different. Them getting it meant we had to come out.
 

Following the 3-1 defeat, Steve told crewealex.net: “We were stunned by the result. It didn’t deserve to be 3-0 in fairness, but the important thing is tonight was always going to be the first goal. Depending on who got that it would decide how the game was going to be set up through the rest of it.