David Artell was disappointed that Crewe Alexandra couldn’t build on a positive Christmas period by preventing another away defeat at Bury. The Shakers fought back from 1-0 down to score three second half goals and condemn Crewe to a 10th away defeat of the campaign in the league.
Although pleased with our first half performance and Chris Porter’s third goal in three games, Artell was left frustrated that his team didn’t prevent Danny Mayor from having a growing influence on the game in the second half. Mayor played a role in all three goals.
David told the club’s official website: “We gave it a right good go today and I cannot fault the effort of the players. They kept going and even at the end we had a couple of half chances but you also have to credit Bury, they are a good side and have good players. They have one outstanding player in Danny Mayor and he has won them the game.
“We played him well in the first half and he didn’t have too much influence but we didn’t handle him in the second half. To let him come inside once is not good enough but to let him do it three times is criminal.
“He has hit the post for the first one and the lad has a tap in. He does it again to win a penalty and then slips O’Shea in for a third. Mayor was the difference but we worked on containing him. We did it in training and went though it on the DVD. That’s indefensible at home or away.
“It is preventable but we didn’t do what we did well in the first half in the second and that is what has cost us.
“I thought we were the better side in the first half and we scored the early goal and I thought the most likely side to score again. They got booed off at half time so that shows how well we did.
“We have to play like that in all the away games. We have got to it at Morecambe, then at MK Dons and for the rest of the season because if we do then we will win some away games.”
The manager didn’t believe that the injury to Paul Green just before half-time wasn’t the reason for the defeat.
The boss said: “Paul said he felt something after the lad caught him as he went to plant his foot down. He said he felt his knee wobble and that it felt a bit strange but he managed to get to his feet and play on. He thought he was ok but we said that if there was any doubt that he come off.
“A few minutes later he came over and said he needed to come off. That was a sensible and brave decision and we will have to assess how he is.
“I don’t think losing Paul was the reason we lost the game. I thought Tom came on and did well, he was fine. Of course, you miss a 35-year-old pro with great experience but we have had to play a lot of games this season without him and you have to get on with it.”