CREWE Alexandra boss Dario Gradi has targeted Burnley striker Gareth Taylor as the man to watch as he looks for a morale boosting victory ahead of next week's FA Cup clash with Everton at Gresty Road.

And although his side won many plaudits for the way they played against Wolves in midweek he was far more concerned about their "poor half hour" than the hour when they played well.

Having conceded ten goals in their last two home games, it is the presence of Taylor that has persuaded Gradi to warn his defence about the danger he poses.

"Gareth Taylor is a real threat," he said. "What we have to do is make sure that we stop crosses getting to him. If they do, then it is down to the defenders to make sure that they get the second ball.

"Burnley aren't near the top of the table for any other reason than because they have scored goals and we have to stop them."

Crewe have already had a taste of what Taylor can do this season as he was a key figure in the 3-3 draw at Turf Moor earlier in the season when the Clarets recovered from 2-0 down to snatch a dramatic draw.

It was the Wales international who scored the Clarets' first goal that night and then he got the flick on from a long ball from Lee Briscoe that allowed Andy Payton to score a last gasp leveller.

Taylor's heading radar was slightly off last weekend when he missed a number of chances in the first half to give Burnley the lead.

Gradi dropped first choice keeper Ade Bankole after he had substituted him in the home mauling by Coventry City but his replacement Clayton Ince was at fault with the goal that set Wolves on the road to a 4-1 victory at Gresty Road on Wednesday night.

Ince had kept a clean sheet at Goodison Park last Sunday and the Trinidadian is likely to start again tomorrow. Whoever is in goal, Taylor is sure to have them in his sights.