Gradi's Crewe side had won their previous three matches in League Two

Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi has pinpointed a slow start as the reason for his side's 2-1 defeat at Torquay.

The Alex conceded twice inside 16 minutes at Plainmoor and missed the chance to move within two points of an automatic promotion spot in League Two.

"We started badly and they started well," Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke. "It was a combination of the two I think.

"We were caught napping a bit. We were 2-0 down and we looked as though we might get a bit of a hiding."

Danny Shelley scored a stunning free-kick early in the second half but the visitors missed a number of opportunities to extend their unbeaten start to 2011.

"We'd all got to do better on the ball and I thought we did," Gradi added. "In fact we created enough chances to get an equaliser, because they didn't threaten us at all in the second half.

"They'll go home disappointed but they won't be devastated.

"As they say, it was a game of two halves. They took the first half and we took the second half."

Crewe, who had won their previous three matches without conceding a goal, take on fourth-placed Port Vale at the Alexandra Stadium on Saturday.

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