Boss pleased that fringe players have put pressure on those ahead of them.

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis has admitted that the performances of a number of players on Tuesday night has given him a selection headache. Crewe ran out convincing 3-0 winners against Accrington Stanley in the first of our Checkatrade Trophy group games. Youngsters Callum Ainley and George Cooper were both on target and substitute Daniel Udoh added a late third in a comfortable win at the Crown Ground.

Steve was pleased with the performance and said: “It was great to score three goals away from home and to get a clean-sheet as well. It was important for some of our fringe players to get some game time. They have played in the first team this season but a lot of them haven’t completed 90 minutes.

“It was also important to rest a number of the first team players because some of them did look a bit tired and jaded last week. It has been a tough start to the season and six of our eight games have been away from home as well.

“All the players who played on Tuesday performed well and that is what you want to see as a manager. You want competition for places and you want them to play at a high level when they get their opportunity.

The boss added: “They showed a great desire on the night and I made six changes just to freshen it up and to see what the others could do. They have given us food for thought with some of the performances and I couldn’t have asked for any more from them. “