CREWE completed a double over Bristol Rovers thanks to a first-half finish from Callum Ainley.

It was the attacker's first goal of the season, in its penultimate game, and one that should have been added to as far as Alex boss Dave Artell was concerned.

Crewe wasted several chances to rub in the misery for Joey Barton's already-relegated Rovers, but Ainley's 19th-minute effort, slammed into the net after Owen Dale set him up with a powerful run, secured a fourth win from the last six road trips.

Had the Alex maintained their previous strong home form to match their improvement on their travels then they would be much closer to the top six.

But ifs, but and maybes don't a season make and most fans will be more than happy with how their side have built on last term's promotion, securing a mid-table finish, which could yet be as high as ninth depending on how the last day's games pan out.

Yet afterwards Artell was critical that the hosts had been let off lightly when he declared: "It should have been a cricket score by half-time. It was a travesty it was only one. Everyone will remember them having a go in the last 20 minutes, but the margin of victory should have been much greater.

"It became a bit nervy at the end, but I didn't feel danger. But with the amount of chances we created we've got to be winning by a lot more than one."

Antony Evans spurned a one-v-one in the closing minutes and Crewe had a late scare when Ben Liddle volleyed just over. Josh Hare had earlier headed over from close range.

Gas boss Barton has promised an overhaul of a squad he has been highly critical of as they plunged further into trouble. Barton, though, himself, should be taking some of the blame as Rovers were outside the bottom four when he replaced Paul Tisdale in February.

As at Crewe, when his former club Fleetwood visited in December, Barton sent out his assistant Clint Hill for press duties and the former Tranmere, Stoke and QPR defender said: "It is the story of the time since we arrived and the same kind of issues. We haven't had enough quality to either get a goal or keep the ball out of the net.

"The only thing we can do will be to get to the summer and start building a proper team. When you get to 45 games and you are bottom of the league everybody knows there's going to be changes."