Davis is delighted just to be in the hat
CREWE Alexandra boss Steve Davis said he was relieved to be in the draw for the second round of the FA Cup after watching his side hit back from a goal down to draw at Cheltenham Town.
The home side had to play for more than half the game with ten men following the sending off of Kyle Storer, but they led through Billy Waters’ goal against his former club.
James Jones levelled for Crewe in the 73rd minute and although the away side finished on top, Davis said he was happy to bring Cheltenham to Gresty Road for a replay.
“We could have nicked it, but we are pleased we haven’t lost the game,” Davis said.
“Cheltenham work hard, chase things and they are physical. It’s also a tight pitch and you have to be brave in possession.
“We wanted width and double switches in play and sometimes we did it, but at others we didn’t.
“It was a decent, well-contested cup tie and I am pleased we are in the draw.
“It was a composed finish from Jonah and we were pleased to equalise, before pushing on and looking for a winner. We wanted to win the game and we nearly achieved that.”
Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson had no complaints about Storer’s red card, which came for lashing out at Jones after a tussle for the ball.
“Kyle is distraught in there,” Johnson said. “He didn’t mean it, but that’s what happened and the referee had no option.
“If you throw your arm out behind you there is a risk you’ll catch someone in the face and you give the referee the chance to send you off. We’ll miss him for three games now and we’ll have to cope.” The ten men of Cheltenham nearly scored before half-time when central defender Aaron Downes climbed highest to meet James Dayton’s corner only for Oliver Turton to clear off the line. Waters’ sixth goal of the season came after a free-kick from Dayton was nodded down by Downes to Rob Dickie, who drew a fine stop from Ben Garratt, but Waters slammed home the rebound.
Crewe responded well and finally made their extra man count with a leveller 15 minutes later.
At the end of a slick passing move, Cooper set up Jones, who finished neatly.
Russell Griffiths had earlier blocked from Ryan Lowe, while Harry Davis also saw a shot go wide and the two sides will meet again a week on Tuesday.