Clayton Donaldson scored a hat-trick in the victory over Burton on Saturday

Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi has accepted the blame for Clayton Donaldson's penalty miss in the 1-0 defeat by Macclesfield on Tuesday.

Crewe's 19-goal top scorer blew the chance to draw the Alex level, seeing his effort saved by Jose Veiga.

Gradi told BBC Radio Stoke: "I wasn't very clever with the penalties.

"That was my fault. I'd made up my mind what I was going to do, but Lee Bell said it had already been sorted out. I should have done it on Monday."

Gradi continued: "Clayton was hitting down the middle but obviously he didn't. If he was going to do that, I should have had him practising."

Donaldson converted a penalty in the 4-1 win against Burton Albion on Saturday, in which the striker claimed a hat-trick.

But after drawing a blank at the Moss Rose, Gradi described his team's finishing as "erratic".

"There were plenty of chances but they were erratic with their finishing," said the 69-year-old Crewe boss.

"Clayton has got 19 goals this season and he could have doubled that, easily.

"If he had got double that, he wouldn't be playing here. He'd be playing in the Championship at least because he's got a lot of good qualities."

The Alex are eight points from a play-off place in League Two following the defeat at Macclesfield, with former Stafford Rangers midfielder Ross Draper scoring the only goal at the Moss Rose.

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