- Defeat ends unbeaten PDL run
- Chances go begging for the home side
- Callum Agius gets first taste of Under-21 football
Mike Jackson's U21 sides unbeaten start to the Professional Development League season came to an end as they were defeated by Coventry City at Mornflake Stadium.
Tom Costello and William Bapaga scoring either side of half-time sealed the three points for the visitors, however Jackson will be wondering how his side didn't manage to get on the scoresheet.
The young Reds had a host of opportunities before falling behind to Costello's penalty halfway through the opening 45 minutes.
Costello proved to be a threat majority of the first-half seeing his ambitious efforts go just over David Richards' crossbar.
Determined to find an equaliser, the Finney brothers combined from a short corner, but Oli could only see his goalbound effort blocked for another corner.
Regan Griffiths looked to take matters into his own hands by firing in a long-range effort, however his effort didn't test Luke Bell in the Coventry goal.
Desperate to get his name on the scoresheet, Oli Finney could only be denied by Bell's head as Crewe seeked an equaliser before the break.
Moments later, Charlie Finney played a lovely one-two with Matus Holicek before watching his outside the foot shot whistle past the far corner.
After the restart, Crewe started on the front foot once again and almost had an equaliser through Oli Finney after being teed up perfectly by his young brother Charlie Finney, but he couldn't keep his powerful strike down.
On the hour mark Coventry introduced Bapaga, whilst Crewe brought Lucas Sant and Callum Agius on with the latter making his first appearance in the Professional Development League. However, it was the host's man who made more of an immediate impact as the Sky Blues broke from midfield leaving the young winger to calmly slot into the corner past Richards.
The young Alex side saw chances land at the feet of Connor Evans and Marquise Martins late on but both couldn't quite find the back of the net.
Jackson's Under-21 side will be back in action on Friday 16 September away to Peterborough United.