Steve says the message is clear, he wants his players to play their normal game and not the occasion

Steve Davis says he doesn’t need to motivate his players for this weekend’s local derby against Port Vale. The Crewe Alexandra boss says that the Alex dressing room doesn’t need telling how important a local derby is for the club and its supporters.

Crewe travel to Vale Park aiming to record their first league double over Port Vale after previously winning 2-1 at Gresty Road back in September and Davis says his players are well equipped to continue our impressive run having won seven of our previous ten visits.

The Alex boss has told the club’s official web-site: “We know what it means to the supporters and I don’t need to motivate them too much for a derby. The least the fans can expect is 100% from both sets of players.

“As a club we know what it means to our supporters and the bragging rights they can have on their mates on Saturday night and at work on Monday.It is always important and Port Vale have a few of our former players there as well, who may have a point to prove, so that only gives the game an extra edge.

“What we need to try and do is to remain calm as we can and be brave in possession. There is an extra hype on the game but the message we always project to the players is to play the game and not the occasion.

He added: “It is usually the team that works the hardest and is the bravest on the ball that has the best chance of winning the game.”