Dario Gradi feels his patched up side failed to produce enough quality up front, as the Alex slipped to defeat against Blackpool at Gresty Road.
The Alex boss told Crewe Alex World at full time that he felt his front three just didn't perform in a scrappy clash with the Seasiders, resulting in Shaun Barker's last minute header handing the three points to Simon Grayson's side.
However DG also admitted that he felt his side would go on to win the encounter after Nicky Maynard's second half equaliser and the dismissal of Blackpool midfielder Simon Gillett near the end
"I thought we'd win the game after we equalised" Dario revealed to Crewe Alex World after the game
"I especailly thought that after they had had a man sent off near the end. But we just couldn't produce the quality up front and currently we are inconsistent performances.
"None of front 3 did well today and we didn't really create a chance. We weren't really firing an any cylinders up front.
"But we fought our way back into the game with a good spirit and bustled the ball into the net by pressurising their penalty area and getting bodies in there. From then on I thought we would go on and win, and whilst we looked better when we went to 4-4-2, we still didn't produce the quality."
In the end Barker's header, from a Keigan Parker free kick, saw Blackpool steal the win, and DG blamed himself for the goal
"I was slow to spot free kick," he admitted
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Maynard - Pulled the Alex level
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"It should've been treated as a corner. To be fair Ben Rix spotted it and suggested we defend it like a corner, but I should have been shouting instructions. If we'd have done that there would have been a player on the post who would have headed it off line and there wouldn't have been a problem. But you live and learn and I've learned a lesson there.
"Now the players feel what its like to lose in dying seconds rather than win."
Drawing on the positives, Dario said he was pleased with loan signings Isaac Osbourne and Andy Taylor, both of whom were thrust into the team for their full debuts having joined the club on Friday.
"I only met Andy (Taylor) just before kick off and I thought he was quite rightly named Man-of-the-Match, because I thought he was excellent. I've never seen him play before, but he looked a bright player with good techniques.
"Isaac also did fine, without pulling up any trees. But we didn't lose this game because of him."
Full Post Match Reaction from Dario Gradi can be found on Crewe Alex World on now.
Further match reaction from Assistant Manager Neil Baker and Man-of-the-Match Andy Taylor will also be found next week on the clubs own Internet TV Station.
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