HARD graft as well as skill were the ingredients for Crewe's first League One win of the campaign.

Dave Artell had his front three as well as attacking midfielder Oli Finney to thank for exploiting the gaps behind MK Dons' static backline. Mikael Mandron plundered an early header and Finney snapped up the chance to volley home the second as Crewe put their first goals on the board.

But it was also the work ethic the quartet demonstrated without the ball the Crewe manager thought was worth highlighting after a pleasing afternoon.

MK boss Russell Martin admitted his side had been outdone physically; praise indeed and not the type often offered Crewe's way.

But if Artell's players can combine the skill and speed they showed when darting around the back of MK defenders for most of this game with the hard toil they also put in then they should enjoy more afternoons like this.

"The work rate and the decision making of our front four players when we were out of possession was outstanding," pointed out Artell. "They made it easy for the other midfielders and the back four - we were excellent without the ball."

The Crewe boss added: "They do find it tough in games which is normal and they (MK Dons) started the second half fairly well for five to 10 minutes, but we kept our shape and kept defending and we came out of it the other side.

"It's important the players get the recognition they deserve, they deserved a lot more than what they got (at Hull) last week."

Mandron has looked a powerful threat in the air and he glanced home a super header after Ryan Wintle, overlapping down the right, picked him out in the 13th-minute.

The lead was doubled in the 20th-minute when Owen Dale's cross dropped invitingly for Finney to volley in from 10 yards.

The midfielder should have scored a second midway through the second half after referee Seb Stockbridge waved on the advantage after a foul on the halfway-line.

Finney raced clear but shot too close to onrushing keeper Lee Nicholls, much to his manager's displeasure.

"He should have passed to Owen Dale as it was two against the goalkeeper," said Artell. "But Oli scored a goal, his man didn't get behind him and he affected the game.

"With Mikael I told him to set the intensity without the ball and that the other players would go with him. He was terrific and it was a proper No.9's performance."

In contrast to Crewe's energetic showing MK Dons appeared hamstrung by a wing-back system that provided very little thrust down either flanks. They were hemmed in by Crewe's pressing and were very fortunate not to end up on the receiving end of something a lot heftier.

Will Jaaskelainen snuffed out their only real chance when he came off his line smartly to thwart striker Joe Mason soon after half-time.

More goals should have come as the dithering Dons gave away the ball in dangerous areas. Mandron had space to take the ball on but shot from distance at Nicholls, while Kirk was inches away from curling a late effort into the far corner.

Dons boss Martin admitted: "We let ourselves down and we're better than that. We got outplayed. They were good Crewe, but I am disappointed that they got the better of us physically.

"We started really well but once Crewe scored we weren't very good in the first half. The goals were far too easy and although we were better in the second half we didn't find any momentum to break them down."

Crewe: Jaaskelainen; Ng, Offord, Beckles, Pickering; Wintle, Murphy, Finney (Lundstram); Dale (Ainley), Mandron, Kirk.

Subs: Richards, Sass-Davies, Lancashire, Lowery, Zanzala.

MK Dons: Nicholls; Lewington, Houghton, Cargill; O'Hara, Sorenson (Fraser), Gladwin, Brittain, Sorinola (Keogh); Mason (Noumbe), Morris

Subs: Walker, Poole, Kasumu, Nombie, Harvie