DAVE Artell blasted Crewe's defensive work after Charlton wrapped up a 2-0 win at Gresty Road in the League One opener.

The manager was left wincing at the Addicks' second strike just before the break (43) and knows Crewe can ill afford to concede similar goals at this more demanding higher level.

It was all too casual as the ball bobbled around the box before Adedeji Oshilaja headed into the path of Conor Washington who was free at the far post. The finish to a dreadfully untidy piece of play, saw the Charlton debutant slice his volley and he was fortunate that it landed in the net past Will Jaaskelainen.

For the opener Alfie Doughty was handed the freedom of the right flank to bore in on goal and he clinically finished past Jaaskelainen (24).

But this certainly wasn't a comfortable win for the Londoners and had Perry Ng showed more composure in the first half then Crewe would have drawn level. But the skipper skied over from close range after Owen Dale headed a corner invitingly across goal.

After the break Mikael Mandron forced Ben Amos into some agile work with the Charlton keeper tipping over Crewe's new strike recruit's powerful header.

Mandron also thumped the bar with an effort from the edge of the box. Had either gone in then Lee Bowyer's men may have had to negotiate a difficult closing spell.

Artell said: "I think we deserved something better than a 2-0 defeat. I want us to be a free-flowing football team so I am not going to criticise the players too much, but we can't defend like we did at times.

"Their second goal was really poor, but we were in the ascendancy in the second half when we got into some great positions.

"We have got to be better and we have got to be more ruthless but at times we weren't and it has cost us in both boxes."

It will be hard to make judgements after one game, another sadly behind closed doors. But it would not be a surprise if Charlton are in contention to make a swift return to the Championship despite Bowyer's pre-season pessimism. So Crewe's defeat perhaps should be assessed in that context.

The ongoing takeover at The Valley can't come soon enough for the Addicks' boss who has been struggling to entice players in with a £1,300 per week wage ceiling imposed as part of a transfer embargo. He managed to sign Washington and Alex Gilbey before restrictions came in and they both played key roles in this win.

Despite their off-the-pitch problems, Charlton have plenty of quality in their ranks, which was demonstrated when Bowyer was able to bring former Alex loan man Chuks Aneke and Welsh international Jonny Williams off the bench in the second half.

Crewe will need to be better and Artell will have more options when his treatment room clears. Chris Porter, Daniel Powell and Tommy Lowery were all key men in League Two and should make a mark in the third tier, as should new signing Donervon Daniels, who is more than familiar with the standard.

Youngster Luke Offord was fit to return to the back four he graced so impressively towards the end of last season, but it would be a surprise if the partnership he struck up with summer signing Omar Beckles for this game will prove to be Crewe's strongest.

Up top Mandron has looked powerful in the air and capable of good hold-up play, but he will need to adapt to Crewe's preferred 4-3-3 system.

That attacking spearhead proved too hot for most League Two defences to handle last season, but there were one or two glitches at times here and both Charlie Kirk and Owen Dale failed to deliver quality.

But it is early days yet and Crewe need to weather a tough opening set of fixtures with another of the relegated Championship clubs up next at Hull next Saturday before MK Dons visit Gresty Road on September 26.

Crewe: Jaaskelainen; Ng, Offord, Beckles, Pickering; Wintle, Murphy (Ainley), Finney (Lundstram); Dale (Zanzala), Mandron, Kirk. Subs: Richards, Johnson, Sass-Davies, Lancashire, Lundstram.

Charlton: Amos; Lapslie (Williams), Oshilaja, Barker, Purrington; Gilbey, Forster-Caskey, Pratley; Doughty (Morgan), Bonne, Washington (Aneke). Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Levitt, Otzumer, Vennings