I haven't done my job properly

Steve Holland was more than a little angered at the team's performance yesterday but was willing to shoulder some of the blame.

The game at Gresty Road saw the Alex convincingly beaten 3-1 by a rampant Southend side, spearheaded by former Alex loanee Lee Barnard. To rub salt in the wounds both Gary Roberts and Kenny Lunt had penalties saved by Shrimpers keeper Flahavan, who was simply brilliant throughout the day.

The 'keeper's performance is no consolation to Steve Holland though; the Dutchman wasn't happy with his defence or midfield and felt he was to blame for Southend's early goal in the 3rd minute.

Holland told crewealex.net : 'I accept full responsibility for that result, it is my job to prepare the team. I prepare them for the game and I haven't done my job properly.

'All of the back four looked nervous and hesitant and the midfield didn't look like they wanted the ball at all except maybe Kenny Lunt, who I thought did some good things sometimes.The start of the game was abysmal and was really an unacceptable standard.

'To have missed two penalties, I don't think they were badly struck, neither of them was a poor penalty but they were 2 good saves for their goalkeeper.

'It is my fault, the fans deserve a lot better than that, but they got behind them in the second half. We have worked hard all week. I thought I had prepared them properly but I obviously hadn't.'

And it was a Millwall equaliser against Gillingham that saved Crewe from falling into the relegation zone but only goal difference, and Bournemouth's entrance into administration, keeps the Railwaymen out of the bottom four.

Next week is a trip to Yeovil and needless to say it's like a cup final, like every game for the next four weeks. This though will go to the last day of the season it looks like.