Steve Davis says his side deserved the three points last night after bossing the majority of the game.

Steve Davis was left ‘gutted for his players and the Crewe fans’ after a late penalty converted by the Southend United substitute Jack Payne prevented us from earning a valuable three points from a tough away encounter.

Following last night’s 1-1 draw with Phil Brown’s Shrimpers, Steve Davis told us: “I was gutted for them because we have come away to Southend and been the better side. We have been able to show what we are about and show our ability against a team that is just outside the play-offs.

“We performed really well and battled away and I couldn’t ask for any more from them. I am sure the fans who made the long trip would have been proud of our players competing like that and bossing much of the game.”

Although Southend United rarely got in behind us, they were given two opportunities from the penalty spot. The Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt saved Tyrone Barnett’s first-half penalty and he got close to keeping out Payne’s late effort after Ben Nugent had suffered an uncharacteristic rush of blood in conceding it in stoppage time.

Steve praised the contribution of his number one goalkeeper: “Ben watched Barnett’s penalties and knew he liked to blast them and go for power. I said to him that if they were to get one would you stand there until the last possible moment and he said he would. He did that and made a very good save.

“Ben was terrific for us again tonight. He came for crosses and took the pressure off. We knew they had some big, strong lads in their team and that they would want to load our box with crosses and Ben came and collected them. He bossed his box and that is what we want from him.”