WHEN Rochdale last visited Gresty Road the relegation boot was on the the other foot.

Despite compiling three consecutive wins, Brian Barry-Murphy's current Dale side are staring League Two in the face with only three games to play.

Five years ago it was the Alex under the charge of Steve Davis for whom the trap door was beginning to creak.

A wretched campaign saw them perched at the bottom of the table for long periods. But on that February Saturday afternoon first-half goals from Marcus Haber and Brad Inman secured a 2-0 win which moved them up to 22nd place.

It was only Crewe's third home success; and only one more followed it against Doncaster, but the Alex had been relegated several games before that penultimate game.

In the weeks before draws with lofty Wigan and Bury had offered some hope, but there were painful home beatings too that term by Peterborough (1-5) and Coventry (0-5), not forgetting an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of National League side Eastleigh.

Davis said afterwards: "It is nice to win at home as I have reiterated to the players about the importance of winning our home games.

"I've asked them to go on a run after our draws against Wigan and Bury. It is all right doing it against the teams up there, but it is teams like Rochdale and those below mid-table that we need to claim some points from."

Sadly, they couldn't manage enough of those successes and a damaging home defeat at the hands of Blackpool, who were also relegated that year, was soon followed by the coup de grace on a dreadful afternoon at Port Vale.

Yet on this day the occasional brilliance of Inman and a robust showing by targetman Haber did for Dale, with the former charging 40 yards to finish past Josh Lillis.

Haber could have added to his tally, but time was running out for the Canadian journeyman with Crewe. After relegation he left for Scottish football and he can now be found plying his trade in Cambodian football. Inman spent time at Rochdale later and is back in his native Australia with A-League Western United after playing 2020 in the Indian Super League.

While Crewe's defensive record was appalling in 2015/16 with 83 goals conceded, a notable member of a struggling rearguard was current Premiership regular, West Brom's Semi Ajayi.

Ian Henderson and Callum Camps wasted the visitors' best chances that day. Henderson is now with Salford City, while Camps featured for Fleetwood against Crewe in midweek.

On the day then Dale boss Keith Hill groaned about how timid his side had been.

"Crewe have taken advantage of our friendly nature," he said.

Crewe 2, Rochdale 0, League One, February 6, 2016.

Crewe: Garratt, Turton, Ajayi, Nugent, Guthrie, Cooper (Bakayogo), Fox, Jones, Inman (Ng), Seager (Howell), Haber Subs: Baillie, Ainley, Kirk, Richards

Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, McNulty, Lancashire, Kennedy (Bunney), Vincenti (Andrew), Lund, Syers (Mendez-Laing), Camps, Allen, Henderson. Subs: Eastham, Rose, Cannon, Collis