Crewe miss host of chances again as Gills sneak 1-0 win thanks to John Akinde header.

David Artell said his Crewe side got exactly what they deserved this evening after they missed a host of chances to have put this game to bed before half-time. Crewe hit the post twice through Daniel Powell and Mikael Mandron and had other good openings to score a number of goals. Gillingham remained in the game and got their reward when sub John Akinde headed the only goal of the night.

An immensely frustrated Artell said: “It was similar to Saturday although we made it easier for the opposition tonight. We worked hard on Saturday at Ipswich and deserved to win the game. We got what we deserved this evening because we didn’t do enough to win the game.

“We had chances and it should have been out of sight at half time but we didn’t finish the chances again. It was not as though some of them were difficult chances either. We have to score three or four of those and when you don’t, you leave yourselves wide open.

“We didn’t test their goalkeeper enough, especially in the second half and I said to the players after the game, don’t kid yourselves on, we were not unlucky tonight and didn’t deserve more. We have to score. Games change games and we let Gillingham off the hook.

“Then we don’t get out there quickly enough, we don’t cut the cross out, Akinde gets a bit of space and its 1-0. Will got a strong hand on it but it has ended up in our net and that’s the difference. He has scored his chance and we haven’t and that is why they are going home with three points.

“That’s not luck or bad luck. You have to take those chances and we had enough again to be three or four up at half time. That’s poor play in my eyes and we have to do more because it is costing us dearly.”