TUESDAY'S Coca-Cola Cup tie offered a dichotomy of styles and both managers defended their tactics.

Crewe chief Dario Gradi was first to throw his hat into the ring.

"We chose which path to go down some years ago and that is what our supporters expect from us," he declared. "We don't play like Bury do but we have got to learn to cope with it.

"We didn't handle the physical presence well at all. That doesn't mean I am criticising Bury's approach. They play a certain way, it is effective and it has brought them great success. Football is not an academic sport but it is uninteresting to practice things like holds and blocking. However, they are part of the game and we have to learn to deal with them."

Ternent, who gave a separate press conference and hadn't heard Gradi's remarks, thought his side had put in an 'excellent' display.

"If you come here and compete and tackle sometimes they look at you as though you have come from a different planet," he smiled. "Crewe's supporters were getting wound up and as far as I am concerned that meant we must have been doing something right. They do not howl at you if you are not hurting them in some way.

"People always say we play in a certain way but we don't get credit for being able to slip it around like we did in the closing stages tonight. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder."

Both managers agreed that the tie was far from settled and that there could be plenty more goals in the Gigg Lane return on August 26 (7.45pm).

Ternent though had a warning for all future opponents.

"We are nowhere near our optimum fitness level," he asserted. "I reckon there is another 10-15% to come before we peak. It usually takes four or five games for the match fitness to take hold."

When asked about the performance of the influential Andy Gray, Ternent reckoned his free transfer signing was unable to "stay the trip'

"He's not fully fit," ventured the manager.

Gray, who laughed at the manager's comments, later admitted that he nearly missed the game with a stomach complaint and that there was still better to come.

That should be something worth waiting for!

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