Gaffer bitterly disappointed after two points dropped at the Crown Oil Arena.

David Artell told the club’s official website that he was bitterly disappointed to see two points dropped at the Crown Oil Arena this evening. Crewe led 3-0 at half time and should have gone on to see the game out but credit to the home side who rallied in the second half to force a draw.

After a clinical first half had seen us score three times thanks to two from Finney and another from Dale, Artell believes that a touch of complacency crept into our play during the second half and that we need to become ‘more horrible’ in that situation if and when it arises again.

Talking after the 3-3 draw, Artell told crewealexnet: “It was a classic game of two halves and for how good and clinical we were in the first half, we didn’t do our jobs like we should have of in that second half. Too many of them thought the game was won at 3-0 and that is unacceptable.

“I’ve been in the game long enough to know that the game is never over until the final whistle goes and I am bitterly disappointed because it is two points dropped without a shadow of a doubt.

“They were as frustrated and disappointed as I was in the dressing room afterwards and they didn’t need me to tell them, although I did. That second half was not like us and we have to learn from that because we are good enough to be in that position again.

“If we are leading 3-0, or 1-0 or 2-0 and need to see the game out then we need to be horrible to play against. We need to defend set pieces better and make sure we kill the game off. We had chances to go on and score a fourth and a fifth but didn’t.

“Go and get that three goal cushion back and do what we need to do.

“Rochdale are a good side, they pass the ball well and credit to them but we have let them get back in the game because too many of them have been complacent.

"The decision over the penalty gave them another boost. The ref gave it and then changed his mind after going over to his assistant. He has done that and it is what it is. It wasn't clear from where I was but it certainly gave Rochdale a boost because it would have been a chance to got two goals ahead again just after they had scored.

“The silver lining is that we didn’t get beaten because another 10, 15 minutes we might have done and it keeps our unbeaten run going to 7 games but it is two points dropped here.”