What the press made of relegation confirmation at Vale Park
The Chronicle
Crewe Alex’s relegation to League Two was confirmed with a dismal derby defeat at Port Vale on Saturday.
Their first loss to the Valiants since 2010 consigned them to the bottom division with five games still left to play.
Louis Dodds got two of the goals and JJ Hooper got the other to inflict a sixth straight defeat and finally confirm what the 500-plus travelling fans already knew.
It was the 13th time they have failed to score in a sorry league campaign, and manager Steve Davis’s 100th defeat in charge of the club.
Now they have four games left to play before their four-year stay in League One is over.
The Sentinel (Report)
LOUIS Dodds scored in both halves to give the derby spoils to Port Vale, a result which relegated Crewe to League Two.
In his 200th league start for the club, Dodds scored just three minutes in to the game, before making it safe with his strike eight minutes from time. JJ Hooper scored in injury time to complete the rout, with a terrific curling effort.
It gave Vale their first win over Crewe in five attempts and despite the Alex having five games left to play, the 16 point gap to safety sees their stay in League One end after four years in what was Steve Davis' 100th defeat in charge.
The Sentinel (Reaction)
STEVE Davis insists he remains the right man to lead Crewe Alexandra, despite them being relegated to League Two after a 3-0 defeat at Port Vale.
A brace from Louis Dodds, and JJ Hooper's injury time strike condemned the Alex to a sixth straight league defeat for the first time since February 2006.
Crewe rarely threatened, and despite a promising opening 10 minutes in the second half, they rarely threatened to break down the Valiants.
Despite still having five games to play, Crewe are relegated being 16 points from safety, but Davis wants to be given the opportunity to lead the club back to League One, having won promotion to the third tier during his first season in charge back in 2011/12.
"I've always thought I am the right person. When I got the job back then I thought I was the right person and nothing has changed. We've had four years in this league, but it still isn't good enough for me I want better than that.
"I want this club to do better. This wasn't part of the plan but we have to deal with it, accept it and come back stronger and fight again next season.”