RIVAL boss John Coleman lent his support to Dave Artell after the Crewe boss came under fire from his own fans after a hefty defeat at Accrington.

Artell stressed the Alex faithful had the right to voice their displeasure after a miserable afternoon in Lancashire in which his side, already trailing to Ross Syke's first-half set-piece header, conceded three times in 14 minutes after the break as they succumbed to a fifth straight loss.

A small number of visiting supporters in a 400-plus away following at the Wham Stadium vented their fury at the manager and his players as they made their way to the dressing room.

But Stanley boss Coleman accused them of being fickle and short on memory.

"I feel for Dave there because he's getting a bit of stick from their fans. I've seen Dave's teams over the years produce so much unbelievable football and give Crewe so many highs," Coleman told Stanley's official YouTube channel.

"He didn't deserve what he got from the fans at the end - he's not playing.

"It's like playing cards, if you don't get good cards for a particular game it's hard to play them. The good work he has done people are forgetting that and it is totally wrong. Crewe owe him a lot for the way he has managed that club."

Artell, himself, says he'd rather supporters target him with their wrath as he grapples - yesterday it was in vain - to bed in the raft of new faces signed in a short space of time during the transfer window.

"They've got a right to voice their opinion. As long as they didn't break the law then that's fine. You pay your money.....I'd rather they have a go at me than the players, although there's not a lot I can do after three o'clock. They're entitled to their opinion," said Artell.

With Billy Sass-Davies missing at the back and Tommy Lowery out from midfield it was hardly ideal preparation for Crewe against physical opponents.

Along with keeper Dave Richards, Travis Johnson and Connor O'Riordan were drafted into a backline which came under heavy pressure at the dead ball.

Sykes headed home Sean McConville's corner for Stanley's 12th-minute opener. McConville's set-piece deliveries produced the second and third home goals too with Tommy Leigh heading home a free kick (51) and Sykes getting his second (60) from another corner.

McConville then curled in himself too easily at the near post from a 64th-minute free kick as hopes of a second-half comeback quickly vanished.

Dan Agyei's stoppage-time consolation after a defensive mix-up barely quelled the anger at the final whistle.

On the set-piece surrender, Artell said: "We were more competitive [than Plymouth midweek defeat], but we've gone from one area to another [set pieces]. Now we'll work on them although we spent three quarters of an hour on Friday doing that as we knew they are a big team.

"But you can practice until the cows come home, unless you do it on a Saturday you get what you saw."