Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell was bitterly disappointed that his side didn’t play as well as they have done in recent weeks. The Alex went down 2-1 to Coventry City with all the goals coming in the first half.

The Crewe boss felt that Mark Robins’ side didn’t have to work too hard for their three points this afternoon.

Following the 2-1 defeat at Gresty Road, Artell told the club’s official website: “I am bitterly disappointed by the result because I didn’t think Coventry had to work too hard for the result today. They are a good side, I said that all week, but we haven’t half helped them. Some of our decision making in possession was horrific.

“We never really got going. We had a bit of a spell in the first half but in the second half we were the victims of our own downfall. We played too far away from their goal. Our strikers didn’t get a kick of the ball in the second half.

“We have got to be more effective. We aren’t going to score too many goals some 90 yards from their goal.

“I don’t want to be overly critical. I don’t want to knock that out of them but we have to be more streetwise than that. They pressed us well and we didn’t play the conditions well. We have got to better than that and their experienced players helped them through that.

“They didn’t have to work too hard for their goals. They have put the ball down the side, he has gone at the defender, bang goal.

“The second goal was similar. A give and go and they are in again and we cannot do that. We gave away two poor goals.

We tried to introduce some fresh impetus with the subs and freshen things up but it didn’t happen for us today.”