MACCLESFIELD boss Keith Alexander may give his players a second chance in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy first round visit to Crewe.

Saturday's 6-0 humiliation by Darlington was the club's worst ever League defeat and the Silkmen have failed to score in their first four league games.

Alexander said: "Whether I experiment or give these players a chance to make amends is really a Catch 22 situation.

"Having lost our first three games I gave them another chance against West Ham and they came good for me, but then they played so poorly against Darlington."

He will be without Jamie Tolley, who was stretchered off during the warm-up, and on loan centre back Clayton McDonald, who has a dead leg.

Neil Harvey, John Rooney, Terry Dunfield and Jordan Hadfield could all be in line for a recall if Alexander shakes up the team.

His major headache is in centre defence with Sean Hessey suspended and Richard Walker out of form.

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