SAMBOU IS GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT AFTER LATE WINNER

BASSALA Sambou has given a heartfelt thank you to Alex Morris and Lee Bell for their support, and is looking to further repay them under the new management structure. Sambou scored the stoppage-time winner on Saturday to help Crewe edge out Leyton Orient 1-0 at the Mornflake Stadium and earn a place in the second round of the FA Cup.

The 25-year-old forward’s first goal of the season meant a winning start for interim manager Lee Bell who has stepped up from his role as assistant after Alex Morris decided to step down as first-team boss to become assistant manager. Sambou thanked both Morris, who has stepped down on compassionate grounds following a family bereavement, and Bell for the help and support they have given him since they took over from Dave Artell at the end of last season. He said: “I just want to thank both coaches, Alex Morris and Belly. They have had faith in me all the time and kept pushing me and telling me it is not about the goals, don’t worry about it. Just keep working hard and putting your energy into everything.

“That is what I have been doing, trying to give all my energy to the team and just make sure we can get the wins and do whatever I can personally for the team. They kept influencing me. “That is what I have been doing, being so positive and ignoring anything else outside, any negative energy towards me or the team. We have just been ignoring it and I have been focusing on getting the job done, scoring and being a help to the team.”

As for the change of roles for Morris and Bell, Sambou said: “It has been weird, I have never experienced anything like that.

“But they have always showed their support to us and we are always grateful for that. Even though it is just a ‘switcheroo’ that has happened, we still have that respect and love for the coaching staff. We are still going to give everything we can for the team and hopefully we can keep pushing on.”

As well as looking to progress further in the cup, Crewe will be looking to follow up the weekend win when they entertain Colchester in League Two on Saturday. The Railwaymen have dropped to 16th after seven league games without a victory.