Luke Rodgers clears air with former boss Dario Gradi

Rodgers, 28, joined Notts from Yeovil in July last year

Crewe boss Dario Gradi has revealed that he took a call from ex-Alex player Luke Rodgers to clear the air after Saturday's red card at Gresty Road.

Gradi said straight after the game that Notts County striker Rodgers was at fault for a clash with Crewe's Ashley Westwood which saw both men sent off.

But Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke: "I regained my respect for him when he rang me later on in the evening.

"Whilst he wasn't apologising, he was trying to end up on good terms again."

County consequently appealed against Rodgers' red card and were successful, allowing him to play in Tuesday night's 0-0 draw against Bradford City.

Crewe, by contrast, did not appeal against Westwood's dismissal, which will result in a three-match ban for the 19-year-old.

"We've appealed in the past when we've felt we've had a good case, but I've no faith in the system I'm afraid," said Gradi.

Westwood's red card was the fourth received by a Crewe player this season.

Patrick Ada, Billy Jones and Carl Martin have also been sent off.

Westwood will now miss Saturday's local derby trip to Port Vale, and the two Easter games against Morecambe and Cheltenham.

Rodgers spent a season and a half at Gresty Road, after being signed by Gradi from Shrewsbury Town in July 2005 before moving on to Port Vale in January 2007.

The 28-year-old Birmingham-born striker then had two years at Vale before ending up, via Yeovil Town, at Meadow Lane.