Steve Davis pleased with battling Alex despite narrow defeat to league leaders.

Steve Davis says his Crewe Alexandra side took a ‘huge step forward’ with their really spirited performance at the home of the current league leaders last night. Crewe had to battle back twice to level things up in a thrilling encounter at the Ricoh Arena, but were finally beaten by Jim O’Brien’s sublime 25-yard shot with seven minutes left.

The Alex boss says that it was cruel on his side to have nothing to show for their efforts in what was a pulsating contest and a great advert for League One football.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “I was pleased with the way the players battled and fought themselves back into the game twice. I thought we took a hug step forward with that performance against the in-form side in the league.

“They have started the season really well and went we got it back to 2-2 I couldn’t see that winning goal from them coming. We have been undone by a spectacular effort from 25 yards.

thought we deserved that for the way we approached the game and the application of the players. Both sets of players gave it a real go. “With a bit of luck on our side then we could have picked up a really good point and I

thought we create some opportunities and from two of those opportunities we scored two great goals. The lads showed plenty of character to come back twice in the game. “When we found the space to play our football, I

He added: “Now we have to take the positives from that performance and take it into the Bury game and try and pick up some points.”