Steve Davis: Crewe Alexandra's Easter games will determine their fate, says boss

Steve Davis has been in charge at Gresty Road since November 2011

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis predicts that the relegation-threatened League One club's fate could largely be determined over the Easter weekend.

The Alex are now eight points adrift of safety with nine games of the season to play, having won just once in 17.

They now visit Sheffield United on Good Friday before entertaining Bradford City on Easter Monday.

"Easter will be big for us. The two games will determine a lot of what happens," Davis told BBC Radio Stoke.

Three of Crewe's next four League One matches are against sides in the top half of the table, most notably the derby trip to Port Vale on 9 April.

But they have drawn seven of their last 12 games and, if they can at least avoid defeat over the next few games, it would at least keep the season alive as far as the final four-game run-in.

The last four games are all against sides currently in the bottom six, which would leave Crewe's fate very much still in their own hands.

Davis under fire at Gresty Road

Under-fire Steve Davis says he will pick himself up after some fans called for his removal following Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by relegation rivals Blackpool.

"It's nothing I've not heard before from certain parts of the crowd," said Davis, who led Crewe to promotion via the League Two play-offs in his first full season in charge in 2012.

"We knew what was required and we're all frustrated. It hurts me just as much as it hurts the people watching. You almost think it's not meant to be when you see performances like that and things like that happen.

"But I'll pick myself up. We've got to keep fighting. We've still got an opportunity."

'We haven't learned this season's lessons'

Davis, the sixth-longest serving manager in English football's top four divisions, said his side needed to cut out the silly mistakes.

"You've got to learn quickly in football or somebody else is there to learn quicker and take your place," he added.

"The harsh reality is that we've had a lot of knockbacks this season. But what they haven't does this season is learn from mistakes.

"They keep making those same errors. That's the biggest concern for me.

"But we have to keep their spirits up, keep the heads up. There's no point saying nothing after games. It's a time to emphasise the positives."

Crewe's remaining matches