WANDERERS manager Gareth Ainsworth was full of praise for matchwinner Steven Craig, saying the striker is proving to be a good signing.

The Scotsman netted his second goal of the season to open the scoring in last night's FA Cup first round replay, but it was his all-round performance against Crewe that caught the eye.

His ability to play as a target man adds a different dimension to the way Wanderers play and Ainsworth said it was thanks to a friend's recommendation Craig came south of the border.

The Blues boss said: "Stevie is proving to be a really good signing. He leads the line so well, he does the shift work up there. It's all very well people getting the glory but Stevie really works as well. He deserved his penalty and he led the line superbly tonight.

"He's an absolute winner. He'll fight and scrap for every ball and he'll run until his legs can't run anymore.

"Technically he's getting better every day. What he brings to our team is that physical prowess up front. He will not let a centre half rest, he will give them hell for as long as he's on the pitch. That might open it up for a substitute to come on because Stevie's worn the centre half out."

He added after Craig scored on a freezing night at Gresty Road: "He's from north of the border and thinks it's still warm at the moment, so he's at home. He's calling us all southern softies.

"Joking aside, what a great shift by him tonight, and he deserved everything he got. I'm so pleased for Stevie but he'll be the first to admit he couldn't do it without his team mates."

Strike partner Matt McClure joined in with the praise, saying: "He makes intelligent runs. He's easy to play with because he can do it all - he can run in behind, he can go short so I can run in behind. Hopefully we worked well together and done enough to start again on Saturday.

"He's got good movement and knows what runs people will be making for him."