Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell could not disguise his disappointment after his side were beaten 3-0 by Swindon Town at Gresty Road. Crewe’s awful start to the game saw us three goals down inside 20 minutes.

The Alex boss admitted to having a frank and open discussion with his squad following the home defeat to the Robins and says that we are now at the point where mistakes cannot continue.

The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “We needed to be honest. We are now at the point where it has to change. We have had a frank and open conversation. I was brutally honest and it was a two-way thing. George Ray spoke, which was good. It was healthy. It has to change.

“What was said will remain private but we have to turn the corner.

“We make mistakes again and the game got away from us inside 20 minutes. It cannot carry on. They have to know that there are consequences to the mistakes. They have to learn from them and quickly.

“They have to know that it is not acceptable to make those mistakes or to think it is acceptable. It will take hard work. That is the bottom line but for the first 20 minutes we were a shadow of the team that won 3-0 last week. It was the same group of players but again the first goal has led to another. We didn’t cope well with the set-back and it has happened far too often.

“We had a great chance to prepare for the Christmas period with back-to-back wins and again we haven’t managed it. It has to change because we know what the consequences are for the Football Club.

He added: “It’s in our own hands and in our own destiny. It is not good where we are but it could be even more frightening.”

“I thought Kirky and Conor were the two best players. Eddie Nolan in the second half but the first half mistakes had determined the result.”