Davis is down as Alex woe continues
STEVE Davis had admitted in his programme notes the majority of his players would need to be at the top of their game if they were to beat Colchester United – and they were not.
Instead, his struggling Crewe side remain rooted to the bottom of League One after another damaging defeat.
Davis wanted the Alex to bounce back following their 6-1 mauling at MK Dons and after a goalless first half against the U’s, it looked as though they might.
Greg Leigh struck a post for the hosts shortly after half-time but Crewe then conceded three times in quick succession, to slump to their seventh defeat from nine league games.
Davis said: “The first goal would have made the difference for us in terms of boosting our confidence but that ten-minute spell showed our fragility at the moment.
“The cross came in and three players could have dealt with it and it fell to Sears.
“It was a rare attack for them and then they scored again.
“The game was won in that spell and we have got to do better.
“We have to keep going and try and work harder to cut out those moments in the game when we just switch off.
“We’re not able to stop the goals going in.”
Colchester moved out of the bottom four with their victory, to continue their impressive start to life under boss Tony Humes.
Humes said:“It was an absolutely fantastic result for us.
“We won the game 3-0 and it was a comprehensive victory on paper.
“It was a solid defensive performance and we took our chances well.
“It was a tense first half and we didn’t get into our rhythm, in terms of moving the ball quickly.
“Crewe played a very narrow midfield and we were trying to play through central areas rather than using the width.
“But once we started using the width in the second half, we got rewards for it.
“The introduction of Rhys Healey helped us and we got our success from that.”
After a cagey first half, Leigh’s header hit the woodwork just after the restart before Humes’ decision to send on Cardiff City loanee Healey for his debut seven minutes into the second half changed the game.
Soon after, Freddie Sears gave Colchester the lead when he converted Sanchez Watt’s low cross with aplomb.
And the U’s scored again six minutes later through Healey, who confidently fired home Gavin Massey’s pass.
Watt wrapped up Colchester’s win when he bundled in from close range under pressure from Matt Tootle.