Andre Brown and Jon Guthrie stuck the first and last goals of the game, but Palace's three in between made it another disappointing day at the office for Morris' side.

Both sides started the game well and had decent spells of possession, but it was Crewe who took the lead on 35 minutes after a long ball was flicked on, Brown holding off his man before rifling low under the keeper.

The sucker-punch came on the stroke of half-time, Palace hitting the bar with a direct free-kick, only for the striker to react quickest to turn home the rebound.

Into the second period and the visitors took control, finishing off well rounded moves on 53 and 69 minutes to all but end the game as a contest.

Centre-half Jon Guthrie headed home a free-kick in the 89th minute to reduce the arrears but Crewe ran out of time to find an equaliser.

Crewe: Harrison, Baillie, Guthrie, Mullarkey, Bakayogo (Dowsett, 66), Howell, Wintle (Lowrey, 39), Finney, O'Neill (Saunders) , Ainley, Brown