FERGIE FUMES AT STUTTERING REDS

“I don't know what to make of it. I am really disappointed with the performance. I told the players these teams will battle and make it hard and we would have to match that. But we didn't. We allowed them to make the play.

“Maybe it was difficult for my senior players to motivate themselves, but I'm really disappointed with the performance because I told them we had to match Crewe's endeavour and they didn't do that.

“Crewe were the better team, showed great enthusiasm and were unlucky. We will learn from this.

“It was looking like penalties until Kieran saved me from embarrassment. He's a great young player and he took his goal really well. I never win penalty shoot-outs. The only one I've ever won was in the Charity Shield more than 10 years ago.”

Crewe boss Dario Gradi:

“I said beforehand that we had to make it a memorable occasion and that meant extra effort, determination and running. That's what the players gave us. I thought we created the better chances.

“It would have been a feather in our cap to have knocked them out, but my players shouldn't be disappointed. I spoke to Sir Alex. We did our usual: compared our heart situations and then talked football.

“They have nothing to be ashamed of, quite the opposite. I was very pleased with the performance and, at 1-1, I thought we were going to win it. I did not expect to concede that late.”