On Saturday Crewe managed a 1-1 draw at Walsall thanks to centre half Stephen Foster, who capped a superb personal performance with a fine headed goal five minutes from the final whistle. His manager, Dario Gradi, felt he should have scored three, but Brian Beard, who spoke to 'Foss' after the game, found out he felt he should have been even more prolific.
Q:
I THINK THAT`S THE BEST GAME I HAVE SEEN YOU PLAY FOR CREWE?
A:
I'm not so sure I agree with that but I felt strong in the air today, especially from our set-pieces. Every time a ball came in, especially from Kenny Lunt, the delivery was fantastic. I was able to get a good leap on the one for the goal but with a bit more luck I could have had four goals.
Q:
DARIO SAID YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST THREE BUT YOU ALWAYS LOOKED AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO GET TO EVERY BALL YOU WENT FOR IN THE AIR?
A:
You could say that but you also have to say that the quality of the delivery was very high. I am just disappointed that I didn't put the other chances away.
Q:
WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE CREWE GOAL THAT WAS RULED OUT, WAS IT A CASE OF OFFSIDE AGAINST STEVE JONES?
A:
I think so, yes. I think Steve was offside from the initial shot. But you have to ask if he can be offside from a deflected shot, I'm not so sure.
Q:
YOU GOT A POINT FROM AN AWAY GAME BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK EACH TEAM WILL BE KICKING THEMSELVES THAT THEY DIDN'T WIN THE GAME?
A:
Yes, especially if you look at the first half when Walsall were the dominant team and we were very disappointed with our first half performance. But if you look at the second half we could have beaten the best teams the way we played. I thought we put the pressure on and maintained that pressure, something we haven't been able to do at times this season. We put Walsall under the cosh, on their own ground, so we have to take heart from our second half performance.
Q:
BOTH KEEPERS PERFORMED WELL AND PRODUCED SOME GOOD SAVES ON THE DAY?
A:
Yes, especially Clayton's one on one save in the first half. That kept us in the game really. If we had gone 2-0 down I think our heads might have dropped. If you look at their keeper I think he's only played a couple of games for them but some of the saves he pulled off, from point blank range, were terrific. His saves from a couple of headers were particularly good so he must be pleased with the way he played today.
Q:
DO YOU THINK A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR WAS THE WAY IAN ROPER KEPT SUCH A TIGHT REIN ON DEAN ASHTON?
A:
It did but to be fair I think Dean did well because Roper is very strong in the air. He's a big lad but I think Dean won his fair share of balls in the air and, like everyone else in the team, Dean worked his socks off. I think the way we played isolated Dean a little bit, especially in the first half when we didn't really support him well enough.
Q:
CREWE PUSHED SO HARD TOWARDS THE END AND MAYBE HAD JUST ENOUGH TO HAVE WON?
A:
Yes, it was a culmination of a second half in which we played some terrific stuff. We had a bit of a kick up the backside at half time, which we deserved, and that spurred us on. It shouldn't be necessary because we should be like that from the off but at least we came back into it and got a point.
