Lee Bell has urged everyone connected to Crewe Alexandra to ‘stick together’ after Saturday’s disappointing defeat to Grimsby Town.

The Railwaymen were beaten 3-0 by the Mariners at Mornflake Stadium, and the Manager made no excuses for the performance.

But with two League Two fixtures left to play, and a place in the Play-Offs still up for grabs, he wants a united front.

Bell said: “We are struggling at home with confidence and the fans showed their frustration, rightly so.

“But we have to stick together. I’ll shield the players the best I can, and then we need a response.

“I’m really disappointed that my team got outran by our opponents at home. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“We were dominated in every area of the pitch, in posession and without the ball. We had a better spell in the second half but it was too late then.

“I’ll have to look at the reasons why. I’m fed up of the injuries we are getting, but it was a good enough team to win a game of football.

“The boys are struggling a bit so we have to try to build them back up and get some confidence. I’ll be positive with the players and we will go through one or two things.

“For the first time this season I’ve highlighted body language to the players. It’s key. They have to carry themselves to the end of the game much better than they did.

“The players have been exceptional all season to get us into this position, but we have to concentrate on the here and now.

“We have had enough praise, me included, for what has gone on this season but to lose two home games on the bounce 3-0 is really tough for everybody.

“Win, lose or draw, we reflect on what we have done as staff and whether we have set the team up right.”