SOME fans called for Dave Artell to leave as relegation was confirmed on another dismal Crewe away day.

An early strike from Tommy Rowe and Josh Martin's finish soon after half-time secured second-bottom Doncaster a rare win to keep their slim survival hopes alive.

But for the Alex there will only be pride to play for in the remaining four games as the focus turns on next season and ensuring the dreadful run of form that has sunk this campaign does not carry over.

After the defeat at the Eco-Power Stadium boss Artell pledged to continue the rebuild of a squad to ensure that doesn't happen and apologised to supporters for the past nine months.

Some among the travelling faithful probably won't be listening, though, as they produced a handful of 'Artell Out' banners as the game ebbed away.

There is understandable hurt as Crewe drop back to League Two after a two-year stay in the third tier. Loyal fans have the right to air their feelings, but they're unlikely to see their wishes granted.

The manager has credit in the bank from the recovery of 2017 onwards, culminating in the 2020 promotion, and he has built solid foundations with the club's board. It would be a left-field decision indeed if Chairman Charles Grant and his directors did not allow him to start the task of mounting the comeback in July.

Afterwards the Crewe boss stressed: "We've done it once and we will do it again. I can promise that.

"I'm absolutely determined we'll see some success again and I will be here for as long as somebody tells me otherwise.

"I've learned more during my last two months in management than I had in the previous four-and-a-half years without a doubt.

"It's been a season to forget for lots of reasons, but we are already building a team. That's the situation we are in and by and large our young players have taken those opportunities. It's across the board that we haven't done well enough."

Another of those youngsters, Lewis Billington, emerged from the Academy production line, to be thrown into the back four after Zac Williams withdrew during the warm-up.

Demotion can hardly be blamed on the club's emerging talent at the back such as the very promising Williams and the giant Connor O'Riordan or the more mature Billy Sass-Davies, who made his return after a worrying spell on the sidelines.

But the lack of game experience at the back has been telling this year. As has been the lack of a consistent threat up top.

Mikael Mandron emerged for his first start after injury. But the Frenchman is unlikely to be sticking around. Leading goalscorer Chris Long is thankfully contracted for another year and with January signing Dan Agyei could be a handful at the lower level.

But really it's too early to say how the squad will be reshaped, although you'd expect that the next few months will see the doors revolving if Crewe are to regroup.

On-loan midfielder Rekeem Harper glanced a post and Tommy Lowery forced a decent save from the home keeper late on. But there wasn't much to suggest the Alex could beat the second worst team in the division.

Donny's second, driven by Martin through a crowd of players was a sickening blow two minutes after the restart.

Rovers boss Gary McSheffrey summed it up: "We've not got back-to-back wins all season and, if we could, then that will give the lads so much confidence and momentum.

"We're still in there fighting. We're still in the position where we can still try to close the gap."

That gap for Crewe grew wider in recent weeks to the extent that there was an inevitability about what would transpire today as the dreadful stats piled up around the club.

Eight straight losses. Fifteen defeats in the last 16 and there's more if you can take the pain. It was only going to end one way.

But when the dust settles on this dismal campaign, Artell and his revamped management team plus key hires in the backroom recruitment department will be looking to make amends.

• See Kevin Warburton's picture gallery of a sad day for the Alex at the Eco-Power Stadium above (click through the arrows).