DAVE Artell said there were too many "below-par" performances as League One leaders dominated at Gresty Road.

It was not hard to see why Michael Appleton's side have been so effective in the opening two months of the season, but Crewe contributed to their downfall - which was in doubt right to the end because of the Imps' poor finishing.

It was a lacklustre showing so soon after the impressive all-round effort at Doncaster at the weekend.

"Sometimes you just have to scratch your head and wonder how they can go from where we were on Saturday to today," said Artell. "I suppose that's why we are where we are. It's easy to say we move on and we live to fight on, but I'm not sure if we can just gloss over that.

"There were plenty of below-par performances and you can't get away with it."

"We were outfought at times and sometimes we were out thought. I don't think Lincoln had to work too hard for their three points tonight.

"I think that is probably our worst performance."

Artell's players struggled to get out of their own half in the opening half an hour against a well-drilled side who were workmanlike and effective, if far from spectacular.

Although, their opening gambit was when Lewis Montsma almost surprised Will Jaaskelainen with a long-range drive which stuck the bar in the first minute.

Presented with a much easier finish later in the first half when Jaaskelainen managed to push out former Alex midfielder James Jones' set-piece strike, the defender was far less impressive, although the keeper did recover quickly to make a close-range save.

But there was a real let off when striker Tom Hopper somehow headed against the post from a yard out after Timothy Eyoma hung a cross over the back stick.

Yet there was no reprieve when Harry Anderson conjured a fine finish, burying a shot on the turn into the bottom corner in the 39th-minute.

After the restart Jaaskelainen's double save to thwart Brennan Johnson and Hopper kept Crewe in it.

But while Artell freshened up the attack by drafting on Chris Porter and Daniel Powell clear chances for the hosts were at a premium

The best fell in the first half to Owen Dale who, drafted into the starting XI in place of Powell, struggled to make an impact. Alex Palmer was off his line quickly to thwart Dale at the far post.

The Lincoln keeper was largely untroubled afterwards apart from when making a routine save from Powell's angled drive in the closing stages when Crewe adopted a direct approach in a bid to rescue a point.

Lincoln boss Appleton said: "Crewe had us under pressure in the last 15 minutes when they hit a lot of crosses in, but the way we defended was pleasing.

"If you come to Crewe, who have had some good results this season, and dominate for 65 minutes and take a bit of pressure in the closing stages then I will take that."

Crewe: Jaaskelainen; Ng, Offord, Beckles, Pickering; Wintle, Murphy (Lowery), Ainley (Porter); Dale (Powell), Mandron, Kirk. Subs: Richards, Daniels, Finney, Zanzala

Lincoln City: Palmer; Eyoma, Monstma, Walsh, Edun; Grant, Jones, Anderson, Jonson; McGrandles, Hopper. Subs: Ross, Jackson, Scully, Archibald, Soule, Gotts, Roughan.