Crewe Alexandra: Side lacked the cutting edge against Carlisle, says manager Steve Davis

CREWE manager Steve Davis admitted his side lacked a cutting edge after a frustrating night in Cumbria.

Alex created plenty of chances in the goalless draw with Ajay Leitch-Smith going closest to opening the scoring when his 70th-minute snapshot hit the bar.

Davis said: "We more than deserved the draw and could even have won the game because we had several clear openings in the first half when I felt we were the better team.

"They came into it a bit, but we defended the crosses well. We had more opportunities and hit the bar, but we were a bit shot-shy even if it was not for want of trying.

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"It was a decent game and with a bit more fortune we would have won. We played some good football and I was proud of a good performance. Our movement was good and it was just the final ball in the last third and the killer edge in front of goal we lacked."

But Davis could have no complaints about extending his side's unbeaten run to four games and added: "Carlisle have been in this league a long time and we are just adapting. We are getting belief and resilience and I am more than pleased with the players' efforts."

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott had some encouraging words for his opposite number.

He said: "Crewe are a good young side who like to play good football."

The game may have been goalless, but it was never dull and, with better finishing, both sides could have snatched the three points in the second half when the nearest they came was an effort apiece off the woodwork.

Crewe's crisp passing game had Carlisle on the back foot in the first half and Max Clayton should have done better with a chance inside the box in the sixth minute, screwing his shot wide from Matt Tootle's cross after skipper Luke Murphy had opened up the defence with a fine crossfield pass.

Again Crewe had Carlisle in difficulties as Byron Moore fired just wide from a promising position and Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie showed his bravery by going down at the feet of Clayton as the striker homed in on another chance following an excellent move.

Crewe keeper Alan Martin had been given a quiet night until the 39th minute when he had to take off to his left to block a thunderbolt from Bradley Potts.

Substitute Joe Garner had Carlisle's best chance in the second half when he came on as a substitute for Jake Jervis. His glancing shot beat Martin, but rebounded off the right-hand post.

Leitch-Smith went just as close for Alex when he shook the bar and Moore missed another golden chance when he turned Frank Simek inside out in the penalty box, only to see Gillespie block the shot.

Despite the lack of goals, both sides displayed plenty of attacking intent and the match remained in the balance right to the end.