Lee Bell says the hurt from Monday’s defeat to Forest Green Rovers should galvanise his players into a positive response.

The Railwaymen were rocked by three first-half goals from rock-bottom Rovers, and couldn’t find a way back at Mornflake Stadium.

The Manager admitted the loss was unacceptable, but remained adamant the squad can bounce back.

Bell said: “I want to apologise to the Crewe fans.

“The manner of that defeat was totally unacceptable and, as a collective, we take responsibility.

“We looked nothing like what we have built our success on this season. If we want to stay in and around the Play-Offs, it has to stop pretty quick.

“The players fully expected to get three points. They are down, on the floor, and it’s my job to pick them up. We have to get our chests out and go back to work.

“That’s the response I want from the players – this should galvanise them. Their pride should be hurt.”

He added: “I’ll have a good look at whether we got things right – but it wasn’t down to formation, it was down to individual errors.

“We have to get back to being hard to play against at home, and make fewer mistakes. You can lose games in a certain manner, but that has not represented us.”