Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell believes that his side needed to be more ruthless in front of goal at Eastleigh at the weekend. With Crewe unable to find a second goal, the National League side remained very much in the FA Cup tie and threw everything they had at the Alex in the final 25 minutes.
They duly scored an equaliser through their substitute Marcus Barnes with four minutes remaining to force a replay at Gresty on 10th December.
Artell told the club’s official website: “It was a tough game at Eastleigh and we knew it would be. They have lost once at home to Barnet all season and they have a decent record away from home as well.
“They lost in the play-offs to Salford last season, so they nearly made it into the league. They are a tough side and we know that the margin between the bottom 10 in League Two to the top ten in the National League is not that great.
“Eastleigh have games in hand and if they win them they are in the play-off positions again.
“We dominated the first half for large periods and should have been out of sight really but we weren’t. They came back into the game and we were relieved to have a replay at the end of it.
“It was a tough FA Cup tie and that is why BT Sport had 50 trucks and cameras all over the place. They were there for an upset but we came through it and have a replay to look forward to.
The boss added: “If we had been more ruthless like we have been then we would put the tie to bed in that first half but we didn’t and it will be another tough game against them.”