Experience key to Alex

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Goalkeeper Steve Phillips reckons past experience should really serve Crewe Alexandra well in their Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area final second-leg with Coventry City.

"We have players here who are 20, 21, 22 but they have played a lot of games" - Steve Phillips

The Alex still have recent memories of their glorious play-off final success last season while their collection of Academy graduates are already closing in on marking a thousand appearances between them.

Those same individuals will be keenly defending a 3-0 lead from the first-leg at the Ricoh Arena earlier this month and bidding for a prized Wembley place against either Southend United or Leyton Orient in the final of the competition.

"There is of lot of experience in the Crewe squad," Phillips told Crewe's official website "We have players here who are 20, 21, 22 but they have played a lot of games. Most of them have played over 100 games or are close, some have played over 200.

"They have a lot of games under their belt and the run in the play-offs has helped them immensely," he added. "They know what it is all about to play in front of big crowds and what is expected."

Phillips, 34, is already set for another personal landmark this season with his 600th senior appearance on the horizon following earlier spells with both Bristol clubs and a loan at Shrewsbury Town.

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