DAVE Artell questioned his players desire to stay up after an abject second-half show helped Plymouth to a comfortable win.

Those in the ranks doubting Crewe's hopes of pulling off a Great Escape clearly won't be featuring much in the next three months. But it would be a brave, and possibly reckless, player that was prepared to put their head on the chopping block of their passionate manager.

Do lengthy post-match inquests have any real effect? Bear in mind that the Crewe faithful were treated to a much-changed starting line-up, and while time is of the essence you can hardly blame the club's five new transfer window signings – who all started this game – for the mess that has developed over the last six months.

Some of those fans turned on the manager who has guided Crewe with admirable intent over the last five years, in the manner that former boss Steve Davis was subjected to.

But calm reflection may be needed in the coming weeks as it seems unlikely that Artell will suffer the same fate as Davis did then, at least for now.

His revamped side did well enough for half an hour against a good side who had traded blows with Chelsea in the FA Cup and who unleashed some clinical finishing after the interval to win the contest.

The downside is Crewe helped their passage and more effort and savvier defending will be needed in the final 16 games or relegation back to League Two will be a certainty.

Artell said: "We stopped running and Plymouth didn't have to work hard for their goals. We dominated the first 25 minutes and deserved our lead. We had the penalty save and their lad was lucky to stay on the pitch after kicking out.

"But they had four entries into our box, one shot on goal and three free headers, one was absolutely calamitous and you can't legislate for that.

"It was unacceptable and the players are in the wrong club and in the wrong sport if they think it is.

"I asked them if they believed we are going to stay up and if they didn't I told them to come and see me. I told them they won't play if they don't believe. There will be no throwing the towel in for sure."

On-loan Ipswich midfielder Rekeem Harper became the latest to make his bow, but it was another of the new recruits, Dan Agyei, who made his mark with his explosive shooting as Crewe took a 19th-minute lead.

Michael Cooper, in the Argyle goal couldn't hold the effort and Chris Long tucked away a finish at the near post.

But the lead was swiftly under threat when Luke Offord's challenge on Danny Mayor resulted in a visiting penalty. After missing at Chelsea, leading scorer Ryan Hardie made way for Adam Randell, but the end product was the same for Argyle and Will Jaaskelainen guessed right, diving to his right to push away the kick

Crewe's new attacking-minded left-back Tariq Uwakwe forced Cooper to push away a blockbuster of an effort.

But Plymouth twice went close twice to levelling before the break. First Panutche Camara drove onto the bar and then from Hardie's pull-back, Niall Ennis appeared to have an empty net to finish in, but Billy Sass-Davies saved the day with a decisive touch to divert the ball over.

Sadly, the reprieve was short-lived, as former Alex midfielder Steven Schumacher's side were back on terms three minutes into the second half with Hardie finishing high into the net at the back stick after Crewe reacted slowly to Ryan Law's lofted cross.

Jaaskelainen pushed over a Hardie drive, but the keeper was then guilty of some dreadful glove work, attempting to clear his lines. When he missed his punch to clear, Ennis headed into an empty net (55).

Before Crewe had time to regroup Hardie had delivered a killer blow, driving into the bottom corner after more hesitancy at the back (56).

And the frontman finished it all off in the 85th-minute as he bounded clear and lifted a through ball over Jaaskelainen for his side's fourth and for him the right to claim the match ball.

Crewe: Jaaskelainen; Alebiosu, Sass-Davies, Offord, Uwakwe; Murphy (Griffiths), Lowery, Harper (Ainley); Sambou (Salisbury), Long, Agyei. Subs: Richards, Johnson, Finney, Porter

Plymouth:Cooper; Wilson, Scarr, Gillesphey; Broom, Camara, Randell, Mayor (Edwards), Law; Hardie (Jephcott), Ennis (Garrick) Subs: Burton, Bolton, Houghton, Grant.

Attendance: 3,874