News in Crewe

DAVE Artell says Crewe's players need to understand the "gravity" of their abject home performance against Burton.

The Alex's 11-game unbeaten home run came to an end in spectacular fashion as the Brewers, rejuvenated under Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink, capitalised on defensive howlers to ease to a 3-0 victory.

DAVE Artell hasn't dished out many changing room dressing downs in the last two years.

But if there were cups and saucers lying around Gresty Road they were at risk as the Alex boss let his players know what he thought about Crewe's worst performance of the season which saw an impressive home run surrendered after 11 games unbeaten.

DAVE Artell is drawing lessons from Crewe's 2012 promotion to inspire his players to make a late dash for a top-six finish.

Tuesday night's home win (1-0) over Doncaster left the 12th place Alex only four points behind Portsmouth in sixth, although they have played more games than all but leaders Hull and Charlton among the top-half table clubs.

CREWE'S impressive home form rolled on as Mikael Mandron's first goal since Boxing Day landed punchless Donny on the canvass.

While Mandron was ending a barren spell with the decisive strike in the 56th-minute, there were few dramas to negotiate at the other end of the pitch as a solid-looking back four snuffed out what little the visitors could offer in the final third.

RIO Adebisi is set to offer Crewe another option on the right of a back four hit by injuries to key players.

The 20-year-old made his Alex debut against Aston Villa in the Caraboa Cup in August 2019, but was only making his fourth league start when he was drafted in at right-back for Saturday's defeat (0-3) at Lincoln City.

DAVE Artell branded Crewe's tame display at high-flying Lincoln as "abject" as the Railwaymen sunk to a heavy defeat.

A dismal afternoon at Sincil Bank saw the Alex fail to muster much of a threat in the final third, while at the other end they were punished by some clinical finishing from Michael Appleton's men, who stayed within two points of frontrunners Peterborough and Hull.

CREWE Alexandra are aiming for a "third time lucky" win when they face Lincoln City tomorrow (Saturday).

The Alex were beaten 2-1 in the Caraboa Cup on the opening day of the season and were edged by a 1-0 margin in the League One encounter at Gresty Road back in October.

STEPHEN Walker fired a late equaliser for Crewe who had to negotiate another lengthy spell of added time.

Walker, on as a late sub for Antony Evans, ran in behind the last man to latch onto Rio Adebisi's long ball and shoot past keeper Chris Maxwell at Bloomfield Road.

DAVE Artell hopes a growing link with Championship outfit Middlesbrough can pay dividends for Crewe.

England youth international defender Nathan Wood joined fellow Boro youngster Stephen Walker in the Alex ranks before the transfer window closed with both players on board on loan deals for the rest of the season.

AGONISING finales aren't made any easier reflecting on the quality of the opposition's finishing.

Certainly Sunderland would be expected in most eras to get the better of Crewe, but for most of this encounter they were made to look very ordinary by Dave Artell's men - perhaps because they are.