Davis says ploy to play six big ones caused Vale aerial problems

Steve Davis believed that adding extra height to his Crewe Alexandra side would trouble our near neighbours at set-plays. Crewe won the first derby of the season 2-1 thanks to goals from centre-half George Ray and Vadaine Oliver with both goals stemming from crosses from Matt Tootle.

minute mark. ^thRay latched onto a knock down from Haber for the opening goal after just six minutes and Oliver added a second with a powerful header just before the 20

Davis was delighted that his boldness to add some extra height paid off to help the club get their League campaign up and running.

Davis told the club’s official web-site: “I wanted to go with the two big ones up front and we were positive all week with what we were going to do. I just thought that Marcus and Vadaine would cause them some real problems with their aerial ability and having six big ones would cause them some problems at set pieces.

“That how it proved and we have scored two goals from crosses going into the box. Marcus is strong at the far post and it is something we work on. He won his header and George showed great technique to adjust his feet and it was a good finish.

“Tootle’s deliveries were excellent all afternoon and caused them problems and it was a terrific far post header from Vadaine. I thought they were two great goals and our work on the training ground paid off.”