Steve Davis wants a return to attacking creativity after failed to get on the scoresheet at Cheltenham.

Steve Davis is looking for more intensity from his players after we slipped to our first league defeat of the season at Cheltenham Town at the weekend. Crewe were architects of their own downfall at Whaddon Road with a lack of concentration costing us two goals inside the first 22 minutes.

Firstly, we switched off from a corner to allow Rob Dickie to nip in at the near post and guide his shot past a helpless Ben Garratt and then Danny Hollands made a mistake for the second goal when his pass was intercepted by James Dayton on the edge of our own box. It left us with a mountain to climb and although we improved in the second half, we didn’t trouble Russell Griffiths in the Cheltenham goal enough.

Crewe head to Accrington Stanley this evening for our opening Group B encounter in the EFL Trophy and although Davis is likely to make changes, he wants more intensity from his team.

Ahead of the trip to the Crown Ground, Steve said: “We made a slow start and looked a bit leggy. Our play was far too predictable and Cheltenham worked hard to restrict us in areas of the pitch. It made it difficult and that is why I chose to change it.

“Without creating a lot, Cheltenham found themselves 2-0 up because of our own errors. It was a lack of judgement and concentration on our part and we need to improve on that.

“We sat back and let them dictate the play too much in the first half, but we played 4-3-3 second half and took the game to them more. That is what we have tried to do in all our games so far and we need to get back to that.”