Boss understandably impressed by ruthless Villa

Steve Davis went on the record yesterday to say that he wanted the Belgian International Christian Benteke to face his young Crewe Alexandra defence as it would provide the perfect test both in the air and on the floor. So it proved as well with Benteke helping himself to a first half hat-trick in a 5-1 win. Andy Weimann and Leandro Bacuna scored the others in front of a superb gate of 5,423.

Following the home friendly defeat Steve Davis told crewealex.net: “There was a gulf in quality in the first half and we were four goals down within half an hour. They were a class outfit with some really talented young players out there. They were rightly applauded off after an hour and rightly so.

“Their movement, especially in the final third was different class and any mistake we made was punished. If you give them a yard of space in and around the box then they finish it. That is the level these players have to try and aspire to and I told them that after the game.

“I said they should use it as a positive. They need to work hard on the training ground and try and improve as players. They have to work on it and try and reach that level, like Westy has. He was unrecognisable we sold in terms of improvement. He is a superb player.

“I would have been pleased with a clean sheet in the second half. I thought we did alright with the ball and out of possession in the second half. We got closer to them and I was pleased that we scored a goal from a corner as well.

I will watch the DVD and analyse what they do and how they hurt you.” “I thought it was a great spectacle for everyone and I was watching Villa and their movement, as much as I was watching my own players. I will go away and learn from it.