Crewe Alexandra boss Dario Gradi cannot fault effort

Dario Gradi first took over as Crewe Alexandra boss in June 1983

Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi insists that Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury Town was a result that looked worse than it actually was.

Crewe have slumped to 15th in League Two thanks to a third straight defeat.

But Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke:"We played well. We didn't produce enough quality, but I can't fault them for effort. They worked very hard."

Crewe now go to Bury on Tuesday night still not mathematically safe from the drop, 13 points clear of safety.

And, although either a win at Gigg Lane, or a Grimsby defeat at home to Torquay the same night, would officially ensure League Two football again next season, Gradi is not counting any chickens.

"There's no point thinking we're safe because we're not," he said. "I'd like to go off scouting looking at players that we're earmarking for next season, but there's no point doing that until we're safe."

Three defeats in a row have led to calls for Gradi to finally bow out after 27 years' service at Gresty Road.

But, after a frustrating season in which another manager, Gudjon Thordarson, has been dispensed with and Alex have failed to make an expected promotion push, Gradi is realistic about the unrest amongst Crewe fans.

"The supporters haven't got anything to be pleased about," he said. "And I don't blame them.

"I've not done as well as I would have like to have done. When I started I thought we had a good chance of the play-offs. So I understand the fans."

The long-serving Gradi, who also filled in last season following the removal of Steve Holland, resumed control again in early October.

His first spell as Alex boss lasted 24 years between June 1983 and July 2007, when he stepped down to allow Holland to take command.

But, despite a revival in the early part of 2009 after Thordarson came in, Crewe failed to win any of their final 10 games in a nightmare late slide, going down on the final day of the season.