Powell Is Cleverer Than Gerrard

ario says that he was happy to take a point from yesterday`s game at half time but admitted the Alex should probably have capitalised when Stevenage went down to ten men following the sending off of Stacy Long.

The Railwaymen has numerous chances to win the game after the 60th minute red card along with a handful of free kicks but chances were spurned and free kicks wasted.

Speaking to the official website, Dario said:

'I would have settled for a point at the break but we didn't make the most of the amount of free-kicks we had this afternoon. I think we had a million of them and the ones in and around their box were poor.

The main talking point post-match however was, obviously, Nick Powell`s 25 minute appearance. After replacing Shaun Miller shortly after the hour mark, Powell all but ran the show with some superb passing and forward runs.

It`s been a long wait for the Alex to finally see the 16 year old in first team action but Dario told BBC Radio Stoke that he`s ready for the step up - liking him to Steven Gerrard.

'He is a confident lad and had a terrific day in training on Thursday. He has been holding his own with the first team but on Thursday he looked an outstanding player.

'I didn't know how he would handle it but I thought he was a real threat and dangerous when he came on.

'He is not an easy player to pin down to a position because he likes to go where he wants to go, a little bit like Steven Gerrard.

'However, he is not the same kind of player as Gerrard, he has got more tricks and flicks and is a cleverer player than Gerrard although he does not have his power.

'He is best playing behind the front striker, he is two footed and good in the air."

And as for the other prodigy from the Academy? Well, 16 year old Max Clayton isn`t far from the reckoning according to DG.

"Max is training with us (the first team). He`s not ready yet but I`ll be only too pleased when he is."

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