DAVE Artell questioned Crewe's game management as Mallik Wilks' stoppage-time winner proved a real gut-wrencher.

His side made leaders Hull look distinctly ordinary for large parts of this entertaining holiday clash at Gresty Road. But after sub Josh Magennis cancelled out Chris Porter's penalty, which handed the Alex a short-lived lead midway through the second half, it was the men from Humberside who stepped up a gear.

The Crewe boss was left to rue a finish which flew in off the post minutes after Will Jaaskelainen brilliantly kept out Dan Crowley's close-range effort, and after Donervon Daniels, charging upfield, cannoned a deflected effort agonisingly wide.

But it was Hull who showed the ruthless touch and for boss Grant McCann it was just as well they did with rivals Peterborough and Sunderland winning their games late on.

Artell was left with a sense of déjà vu, not only watching the same player who had downed his side in the reverse fixture last September do it again, but in the manner in which his side let what would have been a deserved point slip away.

As at the KCOM Stadium, Crewe were always in the game and, in fact, posed the better attacking threat for two thirds of it. Yet their failure to manage passages of play in the closing stages is an area Artell wants to see an improvement in.

"The next stage of development [for the players] is in the last 15 to 20 minutes that we understand the state of the game a bit better," pointed out the Crewe manager. "We play well for 60,70 and 80 minutes and then don't win the game, or draw the game and that's got to be an area of improvement for us.

"We've not won games we should have won and that is a trend - we could possibly have 10 to 15 more points, which would have been fully deserved. There's another point today that goes on that tally.

"You've got to understand the state of the game. If we improve on that we'll pick up more points and we'll score more goals. It wasn't a case of running out of legs.

"Charlie Kirk could have tackled the lad who scored, but you can't knock him as his work rate was terrific and one or two others in the same part of the game. It wasn't about that, but about understanding the game and the disappointing thing is it's happened too many times."

Hull were grateful to Matt Ingram for ensuring they did not fall behind as early as the fourth minute; the keeper's agile save kept out Owen Dale's header as it headed for the far corner.

Callum Ainley tried his luck from far out and didn't miss by much and Dale thumped one into the gloves of Ingram as Crewe were the more adventurous in the first half.

There only scare was when Olly Lancashire's last-ditch clearance directed Keane Lewis-Potter's angled effort past the post.

After the break Jacob Greaves raised an arm to Kirk's lofted ball, which was spotted by eagle-eyed referee Chris Pollard and Porter made no mistake from 12 yards (66).

But within five minutes, Callum Ainley's trip on Callum Elder produced another penalty which Magennis smashed past Will Jaaskelainen (71).

Wilks' winner kept Hull top of League One and boss Grant McCann happy.

"It was an important win given the other results - the top three have left it late to win games today," noted McCann.

"I'd shouted to Mallik 15 seconds before to get us as winner and it was a brilliant piece of skill from him to bring the ball onto his right foot.

"The character of the boys was excellent against a team who are very good at home. Our subs made an impact on the game."

Crewe: Jaaskelainen, Daniels, Beckles, Lancashire, Pickering; Wintle, Lowery ( Evans), Ainley (Murphy); Dale (Walker), Porter (Mandron), Kirk Subs: Richards, Offord, Wood.

Hull: Ingram: Coyle, Alfie Jones, Greaves, Elder; Slater, Docherty; Lewis-Potter (Whyte), Honeyman (Crowley), Wilks; Eaves (Magennis) Subs: Long, Emmanuel, McLoughlin, Callum Jones