Crewe Alex 1 Morecambe 2.

ONE year later and the sounds around Gresty Road are all too familiar.

Just like results despite two sackings and the return of an Alex legend to the helm.

Surely the only way is up after arguably the most disappointing league defeat of recent years?

Everyone expected Crewe to end their dire home form with a convincing victory over Morecambe.

It failed to materialise and jeers were a stark reminder of those that ended the reign of Steve Holland 12 months ago.

Dario Gradi admits he has his work cut out to turn things around.

“It’s a challenge, you’ve heard the crowd,” he said.

“That’s the way they are these days and I accept that and get on with it.

“If I am not wanted, then I will be told. But I want to do it, I think it is doable.

“I’ve got something to work on but perhaps I’ve got to do a bit more than I thought I had.”

While it is now easy to demand heads roll at a canter, Gradi has had just seven games to turn around a style of play drilled into the squad by Gudjohn Thordarson.

And you have to ask just who better would be prepared to come into a club in this kind of situation and make a bigger difference.

Flashes of football are still littered with booting the ball endlessly up the pitch.

Add the on-going goalkeeper problem if Steve Phillips’ home debut is anything to go by.

Arriving with rave reviews, the loan stopper stood aimlessly on his line as Jim Bentley put away a free header through his legs on seven minutes.

Crewe’s nightmare start almost grew worse when Ashley Westwood had to mop up the danger from another Michael Twiss corner just minutes later.

Joel Grant appeared to be their best outlet as the midfield struggled to get any kind of grip on a below-par clash.

Bryon Moore forced Barry Roche into a stop but the Alex were caught out on the break once more.

Twiss released veteran striker Phil Jevons who finished past a static Phillips for 2-0 on 37 minutes.

Roche rebuffed both Moore and Grant as Crewe rallied before a chorus of boos at the break.

Despite improvement, the hosts didn’t look capable of getting back into the game until Steve Schumacher’s introduction midway through the second-half.

The midfielder put the finishing touch to a perfect Ashley Westwood cross with 12 minutes left to try and save the day.

However there was no Alex onslaught as Morecambe snuffed the game out far too easily.

“Obviously conceding at corners is a major problem so we have got to try and find someone who can head the ball out of our box,” added Gradi.

“I thought the game was winnable and we played some good stuff in the second-half without having that cutting edge.

“Steve scored a good goal to bring us back into it and maybe I should have played him from the start.”

Crewe: Phillips, Brayford (Schumacher 57), Westwood, Mitchel-King, O’Donnell, Shelley (Muprhy 61), Walton, Bailey, Grant, Moore, Zola (Donaldson 80). Subs not used: Legzdins, Ada, Tootle, Davis.

Attendance – 4,113.