David Artell left disappointed with the way his side performed after Vale opening the scoring at Gresty Road.

David Artell says it was the first time his side had ‘moved away from what we are good at’ as his Crewe Alexandra side lost 1-0 at home to neighbours Port Vale this afternoon. The visitors forced home the only goal of the game through Jake Taylor after one almighty scramble at a corner.

Crewe didn’t conjure up too many chances of our own, but Scott Brown made a good save to deny our leading scorer, Chris Porter, an equaliser and Artell was left frustrated with the way we played after Port Vale scored just after the hour mark.

Following the 1-0 derby defeat, Artell told the club’s official website: “We are bitterly disappointed by the result and I am frustrated with the way we played after they scored. For the last half an hour, we moved away from what we are good at. That is the first time that has happened this season and I told them that afterwards.

“For the first time this season, I don’t think they genuinely believed we would get that chance and get that goal. We have got to dust ourselves down and go again.

“I thought we were on top when they scored. They made a change just before to stop our momentum and the next minute, they have a corner and the ball is in our net. It was too soft and cannot happen.

“I didn’t think there was too much to choose between the two sides. They had one off the line in the first half from a corner and I thought we finished the first half strongly and like I said were on top before they scored.

“We are disappointed with the way we have conceded but after that we didn’t do enough to win the game. I was disappointed with the way we played in the last half an hour.

“You also have to credit Port Vale. We knew how they were play and that’s how it panned it out. They pressed us and stopped us playing at times and they have got their goal from the set play. They have also a free header when Amoo has got in and Will has made a fantastic save to push Pope’s header onto the bar.

“We didn’t create enough, other than Chris’s header and having one or two shots blocked. Port Vale have come here and got the three points and the bragging rights and they have done well today. Good luck to them. We knew they would raise their game because it is a derby game and all that but like I said, regardless of the opposition we didn’t do enough to win the game.

“We need to do more than we did in the last 30 minutes but that is the first time that has happened really and the lads are all bitterly disappointed because they know it is a big game and one for the fans and it is a chance for three points gone.

The boss added: “Like I’ve said, we will assess it, lick our wounds a bit and go again. “