Boss disappointed with Cup exit but pleased with better team performance.

The boss added: "The third goal took the wind out of us a bit and ended it as a contest but I couldn't fault the players effort and I was just disappointed that we couldn't find that equaliser and take the game into extra-time, but there were a number of plus points for us." 

"I thought we deserved the goal when we got it. We had been probing and keeping the ball better. It a a quality move and a good finish from Adam. I was just disappointed that we were not able to add to that with our second half performance.

"I was pleased with them but it is all about the quality in both boxes and I told them that at the end. They showed that better quality when it came to their finishing but we were disappointed with the goals we conceded tonight. Ben knows he made a mistake to concede a penalty, but that can happen and will happen when we are trying to pass the ball as much as we are. We have to keep at it and become better at it. There will be a few mistakes and errors when we are caught in possession and we have to improve on that.

"I am disappointed to go out of the cup because I wanted to progress in the competition but I was pleased with the performance. I thought it was better from us from the game on Saturday and the players took strides from what we have been doing over the last six or seven weeks. I  thought we passed the ball well and created some decent openings against a good side. We could have created more but Marcus (Haber) had a great header saved and it was a really terrific save. If we had managed to get it back level then who knows what could have happened.

Steve told the club's official web-site: "I thought we played well today and we were still in the game until they scored the third late on. I thought we looked the more likely side to score again at that stage of the game and the goal did come against the run of play a bit.

Steve Davis was disappointed to exit the League Cup at the first round stage following a 3-1 defeat to Preston North End, but he was pleased with his side's much improved performance. Crewe made it difficult for themselves by conceding two early goals but got themselves back into the contest with a well worked goal finished with confidence by young loanee Adam King. Josh Brownhill killed the tie in the dying minutes with a well taken finish.